Chapter Forty-One - The Turncloak - A Dance with Dragons | A Song of Ice and Fire (ASOIAF)

Theon has the freedom of Winterfell while Ramsay is distracted by Arya. He gets wooed by Abel’s women and learns the source of Barbrey Dustin’s animus towards the Starks. Simon and Mackelly try to see light at the end of the tunnel.

Chapter Review:
Theon Greyjoy roams Winterfell considering whether he might escape. But since The Iron Islands are death to him, and Winterfell is the only home he’s ever known, where would he go? Intel arrives that the snow storm that blights the castle has impacted Stannis even more - his march has ground to a halt.

Rowan, one of Abel’s women, asks Theon to describe how he took Winterfell, so that he might be immortalized in song. He refuses to share. Her kindness reeks of a Ramsay trap. Sour Alyn has been telling people that Ramsay keeps Arya chained naked to the bed. Theon knows this not to be true as he acts as her maid. She is bruised and frequently in tears however.

Barbrey Dustin thinks those tears are more dangerous than Stannis’ swords. The north fear the Boltons but love the Starks. A sentiment that she doesn’t share. She confides in Theon why she hates the Starks and why she’s looking out for Ned’s bones headed north. They won’t make it to the crypts of Winterfell, she’ll feed them to her dogs.  

Characters/Places/Names/Events:
Reek - Broken shell of Theon Greyjoy.
Ramsay Bolton - Newly legitimized son of Roose Bolton. Nasty piece of work.
Roose Bolton - Lord of the Dreadfort and Warden of the North.
Arya Stark - Youngest daughter of Ned and Catelyn Stark. Princess of Winterfell.
Jeyne Poole - Married to Ramsay Bolton masquerading as Arya Stark.
Barbrey Dustin - Lady of House Dustin.
Wyman Manderly - Lord of White Harbor.

Chapters

• 0:00 Introduction
• 9:40 Character Recap
• 10:12 Chapter Summary
• 16:39 General Discussion
• 54:30 Background Information
• 56:27 Comparison with the TV Show
• 57:22 Pedantry Corner
• 1:01:18 News and Notes
• 1:01:58 Conclusion