The Winds of Winterhas not released yet, but it already promises to be one of the weirdest and darkest books inA Song of Ice and Fireso far. George R.R. Martin has been working on the sixth and penultimate novel in the series that inspiredGame of Thronessince 2011, with variousdelays toThe Winds of Winter’s release(which the author has since given up trying to predict). Though the book remains unfinished as things stand, some parts of it have previously been released.
Martin has revealed or read multiplepreview chapters fromThe Winds of Winterover the years, following the likes of Tyrion Lannister, Arya Stark, and Theon Greyjoy, and one includes a nod to a villain fromDaenerys Targaryen’s past.This comes in “The Forsaken,” a haunting, atmospheric chapter told from the point-of-view of Aeron Greyjoy(Theon’s uncle), who has been captured by his own brother, Euron, who is now King of the Iron Islands. The text focuses on Aeron’s torment, but he’s not the only notable character suffering at Euron’s hands.
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“The Forsaken” sees Euron giving Aeron shade-of-the-evening, the potion often consumed by the warlocks of Qarth that gives them their distinctive blue lips, and brings about hallucinations and visions. However, the links to Qarth don’t end there. InA Feast for Crows,Euron revealed he has captured four warlocks, andThe Winds of Winterseemingly confirms one of these is Pyat Pree, whom Daenerys defeated back inA Clash of Kingsat theHouse of the Undying(and who was killed off inGame of Thronesseason 2). Not only that, but he’s been horrifically mutilated by Euron:
“Last were two warlocks of the east, with flesh as white as mushrooms, and lips the purplish-blue of a bad bruise, all so gaunt and starved that only skin and bones remained. One had lost his legs. The mutes hung him from a rafter.‘Pree,’ he cried as he swung back and forth. ‘Pree, Pree!'”
It seems very likely the warlock saying“Pree”is intended to be Pyat Pree, who has been tortured to that mental state by Euron. This would line up with a warning Dany herself was given inA Dance with Dragons, where she was told Pree and other warlocks were headed to Pentos in an effort to find her (though Daenerys would not actually be found there).
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WhileGame of Throneskilled off Pree and dropped the warlock story entirely after season 3, episode 1 (when they made another attempt on her life, and she was saved by Barristan Selmy), that is not the case inA Song of Ice and Fire. Dany left the warlock alive, and that may now prove to be a mistake as Euron brings him back into the game.
What This Means For The Winds Of Winter
It Spells More Danger For Daenerys Targaryen
Given his mutilated state, it seems unlikely Pree himself will be a direct threat toDaenerys inThe Winds of Winter, but he has already proved useful to Euron.The Crow’s Eye was being schooled further in dark magic by the warlocks, and procured a lot of shade-of-the-evening from them. It’s very likely that he learned more of the dragon queen from the warlocks, which he is now using to further his plot to, ostensibly, marry her and rule the Seven Kingdoms of Westeros together, but it could be something more sinister.
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Euron was in possession of dragonbinder, a horn said to bind a dragon to the user’s will, which he has since given to his brother Victarion, who is arriving in Meereen as ofThe Winds of Winter. It’s believed Euron may have actually taken the horn from the warlocks (though this isn’t confirmed), which further shows just how much they are still impacting Dany’s story. Similarly, the magical knowledge Euron has gained from them could also be extremely valuable: the warlocks’ powers grow stronger in the presence of dragons, and so that could be the same for what Euron has learned from them.
Unfortunately for Pyat Pree, he probably won’t be lingering too long in The Winds of Winter to see whatever happens to Daenerys Targaryen.
Pyat Pree’s return may also simply be more symbolic, highlighting how past decisions impact the present and future. Or, he could be further foreshadowing Euron’s role in her story. InA Dance with Dragons, she had a dream of her husband with lips that are"bruised and blue.“When Dany is warned of Pree in the same book, she thinks:
“Pyat Pree.” She tried to recall his face, butall she could see were his lips. The wine of the warlocks had turned them blue.”
This suggests the real threat has blue lips, but not necessarily Pree’s face. There are multiple references to Euron’s lips as being blue and bruised throughout the story, and him capturing and perhaps killing Pree may only serve to reinforce this, further teasing their marriage (though whether that happens is TBC, of course). Unfortunately for Pyat Pree, he probably won’t be lingering too long inThe Winds of Winterto see whatever happens to Daenerys Targaryen. Unfortunately for Dany, though, he might still have done enough to have a continuing impact on her story.
The Winds of Winter
The sixth and penultimate book in George R.R. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire series, which inspired the hit HBO series Game of Thrones. The Winds of Winter has been in the works since 2011, when the most recent book in the saga - A Dance with Dragons - was released. It will continue the stories of Jon Snow, Daenerys Targaryen, Tyrion Lannister, and more.
