PAWith Game of Thrones having moved off-book for season six, the pressure is somewhat off George R.R. Martin to deliver new books – but he is still plugging away.
In fact, the hit fantasy author has actually given a small gift to those who are dedicated to the written form of his tale.
Martin has posted the latest chapter from Winds of Winter to his personal blog for fans to enjoy.
It sees Arianne Martell travel on behalf of her father, Prince Doran Martell of Dorne, with her Sand Snake cousin, Elia Sand, also in tow.
Georgerrmartin.comHere is the opening of the excerpt:
All along the south coast of Cape Wrath rose crumbling stone watchtowers, raised in ancient days to give warning of Dornish raiders stealing in across the sea. Villages had grown up about the towers. A few had flowered into towns.
The Peregrine made port at the Weeping Town, where the corpse of the Young Dragon had once lingered for three days on its journey home from Dorne. The banners flapping from the town’s stout wooden walls still displayed King Tommen’s stag-and-lion, suggesting that here at least the writ of the Iron Throne might still hold sway. “Guard your tongues,” Arianne warned her company as they disembarked. “It would be best if King’s Landing never knew we’d passed this way.” Should Lord Connington’s rebellion be put down, it would go ill for them if it was known that Dorne had sent her to treat with him and his pretender. That was another lesson that her father had taken pains to teach her; choose your side with care, and only if they have the chance to win.
If you want to read the whole thing then head to George R.R.’s website, but set aside plenty of time – a five minute trip to the toilet will not cover it…
Martin did add via his LiveJournal that he has shared parts of the chapter with fans at conventions down the years, but meh – who cares, just finish the rest of the damn book and release it!
