Chapter Thirteen - Arya 2 - A Storm of Swords | A Song of Ice and Fire (ASOIAF)

Arya, Hot Pie, and Gendry run into another trio on the road to Riverrun, whose motives are hard to read. Ultimately, the starving kids decide to trust them and accompany the men for promised food and shelter. They get the food, but lose their horses. Right when Arya thinks all is lost, she sees a friendly face, but has her secret revealed to all. Mackelly gets goosebumps. Simon’s not so sure it’s all good news.

Chapter Review:
Arya Stark, Hot Pie, and Gendry dig up some vegetables in a garden of a burned-out cottage. The sound of singing puts them on high alert and they hide. They are quickly discovered by three men on foot. The men fancy the kids’ horses but offer them a meal and shelter at an inn not far away. When the archer sends an arrow an inch from Arya’s head, they realize they have no choice and comply.

The inn is the same one Brienne, Jamie, and Cleos visited, the Inn of the Kneeling Man. This time the wife Sharna is home. She offers them food and ale. The men discuss how the kids’ horses are better than the ones the innkeeper gave away. He insists he sent the three who bought the horses toward the men, to reclaim those horses. But the men say they never showed up.

A man named Tom offers Arya an IOU for their horses. Arya’s not interested. She’ll give them the horses for the sailboat tied up at the dock. Everyone gets a good laugh at her boldness. But negotiations are broken off when a group of men arrive. The kids are scared and prepare to defend themselves. However, the newcomers include a familiar face. Harwin, from Winterfell, is among the group. He doesn’t recognize Arya at first. But when he does, he takes a knee and announces her as the Hand’s daughter Arya Stark of Winterfell.

Characters/Places/Names/Events:
Arya Stark - Younger daughter of Ned and Catelyn Stark.
Gendry - Former armorer’s apprentice. Bastard son of King Robert Baratheon. Worked in the Harrenhal smiths.
Hot Pie - Friend of Arya. Worked in the Harrenhal kitchens.
Tom of Sevenstreams - A singer in the Brotherhood Without Banners.
Lem Lemoncloak - A soldier in the Brotherhood Without Banners.
Anguy - An archer in the Brotherhood Without Banners.
Sharna - Proprietor of the Inn of the Kneeling Man.
Inkeep/Husband: Proprietor of the Inn of the Kneeling Man.
Harwin - Member of the Stark household guard. Son