George R.R. Martin might take his sweet time writing the series A Song of Ice and Fire, but it's nice to know that he's making progress on the latest book, The Winds of Winter.
Now, the author has released a new excerpt from the upcoming book, featuring Sansa — although you'll note that her name here is Alayne, which you'll understand if you've read the previous books.
If you haven't read the other books, though, please note that the excerpt contains spoilers. Also, if you've only watched the HBO series — you're still about a book behind in the saga. That means spoilers for you, too.
Here's just a taste from that excerpt:
She was reading her little lord a tale of the Winged Knight when Mya Stone came knocking on the door of his bedchamber, clad in boots and riding leathers and smelling strongly of the stable. Mya had straw in her hair and a scowl on her face. That scowl comes of having Mychel Redfort near, Alayne knew.
"Your lordship," Mya informed Lord Robert, "Lady Waynwood's banners have been seen an hour down the road. She will be here soon, with your cousin Harry. Will you want to greet them?"
You can read the entire excerpt on Martin's website here, as well as see a beautiful illustration of Sansa, aka Alayne, by artist Yulia Nikolaeva.
Why did she have to mention Harry? Alayne thought. We will never get Sweetrobin out of bed now. The boy slapped a pillow. "Send them away. I never asked them here."
Mya looked nonplussed. No one in the Vale was better at handling a mule, but lordlings were another matter. "They were invited," she said uncertainly, "for the tourney. I don't... "
Alayne closed her book. "Thank you, Mya. Let me talk with Lord Robert, if you would." Relief plain on her face, Mya fled without another word.
"I hate that Harry," Sweetrobin said when she was gone. "He calls me cousin, but he's just waiting for me to die so he can take the Eyrie. He thinks I don't know, but I do."
Martin recently canceled several convention appearances to continue working on the new novel. Although an official release date hasn't been announced yet, readers hope the book will come out sometime before Season 6, which would otherwise spoil the written series.
The fifth season of Game of Thrones will catch the show up to the events of the books when it premieres on HBO, April 12. In the meantime, why not get caught up on the happenings of both the books and the TV show with this viewer's guide.
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