Game Of Thrones “The House of Black and White” continued with this season’s trend of the rulers making decisions that could see their ruin.

Braavos

Arya finally arrives in the free city of Braavos, getting dropped off by boat right in front of The House of Black and White, the place that the assassin Jaqen H’ghar had hailed from. After knocking on the door, Arya is met by a hooded man, who turns her away despite her coin and her mention of Jaqen H’ghar. Initially refusing to leave, Arya flips the coin over and over in her hand, reciting the names of the people she still wants dead until the early morning hours. She then tosses the coin into the sea and goes to explore Braavos.

On the streets of the free city, Arya takes to killing pigeons for food. When a group of boys approaches her to steal the pigeon – and then Needle – Arya means to kill them all. However, the hooded man appears behind her, scaring off the boys. Arya follows the hooded man all the way back to the House of Black and White, where it’s revealed that he was Jaqen H’ghar in disguise. However, he tells Arya that truly he is no one, which is what she must aspire to be too.

Riverlands

Still on the road in the Riverlands, Brienne and Podrick stop at a crowded inn for food and ale. While enjoying their meal, Podrick notices Sansa, Littlefinger and their entourage in a corner table. Once he brings this to Brienne’s attention, she tells him to get some horses ready and marches over towards them. She tells Sansa that she had been a sworn sword to her late mother and that she had pledged to find her daughters and keep them safe.

Littlefinger, planting seeds of doubt about Brienne’s ability to keep anyone safe, points out that both Renly and Caitlyn died on Brienne’s watch. When Brienne tries to argue that Renly was killed by a shadow, Littlefinger believes that Brienne has done his work for him. When Brienne looks to Sansa, Sansa tells her to leave. Adding to Brienne’s track record on paper is that Sansa saw her bend the knee to Joffrey. Before Littlefinger can have Brienne held captive, she and Podrick make a run for it then set about trailing him and Sansa.

King’s Landing

At King’s Landing, Cersei receives a gift from Dorne – her daughter Myrcella’s necklace clasped in the fangs of a model of a viper. The obvious threat puts Cersei on edge. Jamie, who Cersei chastises for not being a true father to their children, decides that he will make an attempt to rescue Myrcella from Dorne. But first, he’s going to get Tyrion’s once loyal swordsman Bronn to come along with him.

After receiving another head of a dwarf that does not belong to her brother Tyrion, Cersei presides over a Small Council meeting, informing those gathered that Qyburn will succeed Varys as the Master of Whispers. No one is happy about the promotion for Qyburn, least of all Cersei’s uncle Kevan, who Cersei wants to become the Master of War. While he’d be happy to serve King Tommen – if Tommen were to ask him, he’s not going to take orders from Cersei.

Dorne

In the southern kingdom of Dorne, Prince Doran, Prince Oberyn’s older brother, is looking out over the water gardens from the wheelchair he’s bound to because of a crippling case of gout. Breaking his reverie, Ellaria Sand storms in, yelling about how The Mountain killed Oberyn. She wants Doran to go to war with the Lannisters and to send Mycerella back to the family bit by bit. Doran, who is far too sensible and cautious for that, refuses Ellaria her vengeance.

Mereen

Daario takes Grey Worm and some other Unsullied through the streets of Mereen to a residence, giving them lessons about how to be more effective soldiers on the way. It turns out that the home Daario brings them to is that of the Sons of the Harpy insurgent who had killed one of their fellow Unsullied. When he is brought before Dany and her council they debate what to do with him. Though Dany would like him dead, she decides it will be best for her to have him go to trial – especially after learning the real reason her dad was known as the “Mad King.”

Mossador, one of the members of Dany’s council, decides to take matters into his own hands and have the insurgent killed. He thought it would please Dany, believing that she would have ordered him to be killed had her hands not been tied. Dany, however, is not pleased. Despite Mossador’s pleas for forgiveness, Dany has him taken away and brought outside for a public execution. “Mhysa, Mhysa” chant the freed slaves, who ask for mercy for Mossador. After she has Daario behead him anyway, the slaves begin to hiss at Dany. That night, having lost the support of the entire city of Mereen, Dany gets a welcome visit from Drogon.

Castle Black

At Castle Black, Stannis’ daughter Shireen is giving reading lessons to Gilly. During the lesson, it’s revealed that the scars on Shireen’s face are from Greyscale. Gilly, who hadn’t known the name for it before, lost two sisters to the disease and describes the horror that ensues if it’s not treated. Lady Seylse interrupts the discussion and forbids her daughter from giving the wildling Gilly any more reading lessons.

As for Jon Snow, he has to face Stannis after breaking the law and offering mercy to Mance Raydar when he was burning at the stake. At first it seems as though Jon is in for the same sort of justice that Stannis delivered to Ser Davos, whose fingers were cut off at the knuckle. Instead, Stannis tells Jon that should he help him have the North, he’ll rename him Jon Stark, Lord of Winterfell.

Later on, the Night’s Watch holds the election for Lord Commander. It’s expected that Ser Alliser Thorne will win – until Sam gives a speech for Jon. After the votes are tallied, Sam and Alliser are tied. It’s then up to maester Aemon to cast the deciding vote, and he choses Jon.

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