Prologue - A Feast for Crows | A Song of Ice and Fire (ASOIAF)

The Citadel novice Pate and his fellow maester-hopeful friends discuss the existence of dragons, while Pate dreams of winning the love of Rosey the tavern girl. Later, Pate sells a stolen key to the Citadel to a man known as “the alchemist.” When the transaction is complete, Pate becomes suddenly dizzy and collapses. Mackelly and Simon fear the worst for Pate.

Chapter Review:
Pate the Citadel novice sits at the Quill and Tankard Inn with his fellow maesters-in-training. They’re celebrating Alleras earning a new link for his maester’s chain. They discuss news of dragons in Essos. Pate’s only half listening. He’s mostly focused on Rosey, a server at the tavern. He hopes to earn the coin to take her maidenhead and fantasizes about a life together with her. Problem is, he’s broke. He hopes to change that by selling a stolen key to a man called “the alchemist.” The key is said to open every door in the Citadel. The man has offered a golden dragon for the key, which coincidentally is exactly how much Pate needs for his rendezvous with Rosey. However, the alchemist is nowhere to be seen.

Lazy Leo Tyrell arrives and provides a mixture of mean-spirited barbs along with news about a Targaryen queen and her three dragons. The others take his news with a grain of salt but there’s stunned silence when Leo says a glass candle is burning at the Citadel. He says it indicates nothing good for the future. The men grow tired of Leo and head for home. Pate leaves separately and is finally met by the alchemist. The pair move to a secluded alley to trade key for coin. Leo bites the coin to make sure it’s truly gold. With that they go their separate ways. However, after a few steps Pate becomes dizzy and collapses. His last thought is of Rosey.

Characters/Places/Names/Events:
Pate, Alleras, Mollander, Leo Tyrell, and Roone - Novices at the Citadel.
Armen - Acolyte at the Citadel.
Citadel - Institution of higher learning in Westeros where maesters earn their knowledge and links for their chain.
Old Town - Large port city in the Reach where the Citadel is located.