Ser Amory was fighting for his lord, but the Mummers are sellswords and turncloaks. Septon Utt likes little boys, Qyburn does black magic, and your friend Biter eats people. Send a knight to slay a knight and an archer to kill an archer, the smallfolk often say. To combat the black arts. Black magic, black sorcery, and necromancy — my oh my. We touched on the symbolism of Qohor in the Vargo Hoat essay , but to reiterate, Qohor has a lot of Other-y associations — one of which is black magic and necromancy.
As such, it is interesting to see Qyburn, practitioner of black magic and necromancy, be introduced to us under the banner of a Qohorik god.
The necromantic magic that Qyburn practises is probably the most important in our analysis here, given that the Others are most known for raising the wights. The grey sheep, Marwyn calls them. I was as skilled a healer as Ebrose, but aspired to surpass him. For hundreds of years the men of the Citadel have opened the bodies of the dead, to study the nature of life.
I wished to understand the nature of death, so I opened the bodies of the living. For that crime the grey sheep shamed me and forced me into exile. What Qyburn does on page gets increasingly disturbing — but at first, to go along with the friendly father figure act, we see Qyburn primarily in his role as healer at first.
With a bowl and a sharp blade, Qyburn cleaned the stump while Jaime gulped down strongwine, spilling it all over himself in the process. His left hand did not seem to know how to find his mouth, but there was something to be said for that. The smell of wine in his sodden beard helped disguise the stench of pus. Nothing helped when the time came to pare away the rotten flesh.
Jaime did scream then, and pounded his table with his good fist, over and over and over again. He screamed again when Qyburn poured boiling wine over what remained of his stump. Despite all his vows and all his fears, he lost consciousness for a time.
When he woke, the maester was sewing at his arm with needle and catgut. In particular, we noted that there are a significant number of parallels to the forging of Lightbringer, such as the three poundings of the fist as an echo of the three forgings of Lightbringer and the bloody mouth as a link to the weirwood!
Given that this scene depicts a symbolic forging of Lightbringer, this suggests that Qyburn is in the role of the forger of Lightbringer who appears most frequently to be a symbolic Other figure. Indeed, we see some things that back this up. Grand Maester Pycelle did not disappoint her. Perhaps Your Grace might allow me two of them for mine own purposes. The poor girl is quite … exhausted.
The girl had come with her unsuspecting, thinking she was along to serve and pour. Even when Qyburn clapped the chain around her wrist, she had not seemed to understand. The memory still made the queen queasy. The cells were bitter cold. Even the torches shivered. Two, if it please you. What he lacks in gallantry he will give you tenfold in devotion. He will protect your son, kill your enemies, and keep your secrets, and no living man will be able to withstand him.
Words are wind. When the hour is ripe, you may produce this paragon of yours and we will see if he is all that you have promised. The armorer thinks that I am mad.
He assures me that no man is strong enough to move and fight in such a weight of plate. Her grief has made her witless. Do you still need women for your … work?
The puppeteers are quite used up. Perhaps not entirely … comfortable. His power all derives from Lollys. After he wakes, he identifies himself to Robb Stark while Talisa tends to his wound. He tends to Ser Jaime Lannister 's badly infected stump, the result of Locke chopping off his right hand. During this time, Jaime notices that Qyburn is not a maester because he isn't wearing a maester's chain of office.
Qyburn acknowledges this, explaining that he was stripped of his chain by the Citadel and thrown out of the Order of Maesters for conducting experiments which they felt were too "bold".
Qyburn initially intends to amputate part of Jaime's arm, but Jaime begs him not to, even threatening to kill him. Qyburn agrees to instead resort to removing the infected flesh, warning that the process will be painful and likely require milk of the poppy , but Jaime, worrying that Qyburn may still amputate his arm, refuses. Qyburn straps Jaime's arm to the chair and starts the painful procedure.
Qyburn volunteers to join the party escorting Jaime back to King's Landing. Lord Bolton theorizes that the former maester is doing so in the hopes that Tywin Lannister will force the Citadel to restore his chain, though Jaime shoots it down by sarcastically quipping that Tywin will make Qyburn Grand Maester if he grows Jaime a new hand.
After leaving Harrenhal, when Qyburn checks on Jaime's healing stump, Jaime notes that Qyburn's work is far superior to that of Grand Maester Pycelle and asks why the Citadel removed his chain. Qyburn tells him that it was for performing experiments on living humans in order to learn more about their anatomy and justifies his actions by noting that he used the information he gleaned from them to save lives.
Jaime briefly mocks Qyburn, who shoots back at Jaime for the countless lives he's taken, though Jaime notes that he saved the population of King's Landing from the Mad King.
When Jaime then asks Qyburn about Brienne , he states that her father offered Locke a fair ransom of three hundred Gold Dragons , which Locke refused to accept due to a previous lie of Jaime's that Brienne came from a wealthier family than she really did. Qyburn tells Jaime that she will most likely serve as entertainment for Locke and his men that night, and be killed thereafter. Qyburn then accompanies Jaime and Steelshanks back to Harrenhal when Jaime blackmails Steelshanks into helping him rescue Brienne.
Qyburn is still with Jaime and Brienne when they finally reach King's Landing. As they enter the city, Qyburn is visibly awestruck by its splendor.
Cersei has a gilded prosthetic hand forged for Jaime, and Qyburn personally fits it on him. Cersei voices her gratitude to Qyburn, who then ingratiates himself with the queen by aiding her in other matters. After Gregor Clegane is seriously wounded during his fight against Oberyn Martell , Qyburn and Pycelle theorize that Oberyn had coated his spear in manticore venom , causing Clegane's wounds to fester and leave him in agony.
Pycelle tells Cersei that Clegane is likely doomed, but Qyburn states that he may be able to save him using more unorthodox means, even though Clegane once nearly killed him at Harrenhal. Pycelle snorts that Qyburn is not even a maester and reminds Cersei that he was expelled from the Citadel for conducting "dangerous" and "unnatural" experiments.
Cersei, remembering Qyburn's success with Jaime's stump, responds by dismissing Pycelle from his duties - and his laboratory. Cersei then gives Qyburn permission to do anything he can to save Clegane and to come to her should he need anything.
Qyburn warns the queen that the process he intends to put Ser Gregor through may "change him", but when she is satisfied that it will not affect his strength, she instructs Qyburn to carry on. Qyburn is at Cersei's side when she confirms that a head brought to her by two bounty hunters does not belong to her brother Tyrion.
Qyburn asks for the head for use in his research. Later on, at a meeting of the small council , Cersei appoints Qyburn as the new Master of Whisperers to replace Varys. Grand Maester Pycelle protests vehemently given Qyburn's outcast status, and Kevan Lannister denounces Qyburn as a sycophant and Cersei as a power-grabber. Qyburn is present at a small council meeting when the High Septon demands the execution of the High Sparrow after his followers attack him.
Qyburn informs the council that the High Septon had been at Littlefinger's brothel. Later, Qyburn kills a rat as part of an experiment when Cersei enters his laboratory, giving him a message that she wants sent to Petyr Baelish. She also asks him about the state of his work, while glancing at Gregor Clegane's covered body, and Qyburn assures her it is going very well, though there is still a way to go.
Soon after Cersei leaves, as Qyburn writes, Gregor begins shaking under the blanket, but Qyburn shushes him calmly. Qyburn is at the meeting of the small council when Mace Tyrell departs to negotiate the crown's debt with the Iron Bank of Braavos. He also informs her that King Tommen has become despondent following Cersei's arrest, and that he refuses to eat or see anyone.
He suggests that she can simply confess to the charges and plead for mercy, subtly warning her that if there is a trial, the Faith will not wait for physical evidence to reach a verdict, only what they simply believe to be true, but she initially refuses. Finally, just before leaving her, he informs her that "the work continues," referring to his experiments on Ser Gregor Clegane. Eventually, Cersei confesses to her relationship with her cousin Lancel to the High Sparrow , who agrees to set her free on the condition that she perform a walk of atonement.
After Cersei enters the Red Keep following her walk, Qyburn hastily rushes to her side and throws a cloak over her naked body. He then speaks to Cersei softly and reassuringly as he embraces her, attempting to soothe her. Pycelle looks upon the scene with disgust. Qyburn remarks upon her poor state and bleeding feet.
Qyburn then introduces the "newest member of the Kingsguard ," the 7-foot tall abomination he has been working on. At his behest, the golden knight picks her up and they walk away together, further into the Red Keep so Qyburn can clean her up and treat her wounds.
In his laboratory, Qyburn continues to serve as Master of Whisperers by bribing a group of Varys 's little birds into his service with boxes of sweets. When Jaime and Cersei arrive accompanied by Gregor Clegane, the children are unnerved by the Mountain, though Qyburn promises them Clegane is a friend.
As part of her revenge, Cersei asks Qyburn to bribe more of Varys's spies stationed in the other kingdoms, and he agrees to do so. Accompanied by Qyburn and the Mountain, Cersei confronts the group. Lancel says she must be taken to the High Sparrow, however Cersei disregards what her cousin is saying. Qyburn then watches as Gregor kills one of the sparrows. Later, Cersei, Qyburn, and Ser Gregor enter the Great Hall to find a large crowd gathered for a royal announcement, King Tommen then announces that Cersei and Loras Tyrell 's trial will be held in the sept of Baelor on the first day of the Festival of the Mother , and then declares that trial by combat is now forbidden.
After the announcement Qyburn tells a shocked Cersei, who had been planning on calling a trial by combat with Gregor as her champion, that his little birds have been investigating an old rumor that she had told him about, and that the rumor was found to be much more than a rumor.
Qyburn has his spies create leaks in the barrels containing the wildfire, then has them place candles in the middle of the resulting puddles, which slowly burn towards the wildfire.
Qyburn also has Pycelle assassinated by his spies so as to consolidate Cersei's power. Qyburn is present when Cersei holds court with Euron Greyjoy. When Lord Randyll Tarly asks about how Cersei is going to deal with Daenerys Targaryen 's dragons , Qyburn tells the lords that he has been working on a solution. He later takes Cersei down beneath the Red Keep to show her his new modified scorpion to kill one of Daenerys's dragons, inviting her to test it on the skull of Balerion , the dragon Aegon the Conqueror used to unite the Seven Kingdoms, and forge the Iron Throne.
Cersei tells Ellaria and Tyene that Qyburn managed to ascertain that they had poisoned her daughter with the long farewell. Cersei kisses Tyene with the long farewell and Qyburn gives Cersei the antidote. Cersei confers with Qyburn, who assures her the poison will mean certain death for Tyene, but how long the poison will take to kill depends largely on the strength of the victim's constitution.
Cersei eventually appoints him as master of whisperers to replace Varys after his disappearance. Qyburn also took Varys's place on the small council. Qyburn joins the court at King's Landing. When Queen Regent Cersei Lannister calls for a maester to deal with the discovery of her father Tywin's body, Qyburn is brought to her.
The queen has Qyburn and the Kettleblack brothers dispose of Shae's body. Qyburn's intelligence and discretion pleases Cersei, so she has him investigate the escape of Tyrion Lannister from the dungeons. Qyburn researches the missing gaoler Rugen, who also disappeared that night, and discovers a gold coin depicting Garth XII Gardener, King of the Reach, buried below Rugen's chamberpot.
This leads Cersei to suspect the involvement of House Tyrell in Tyrion's escape. In her paranoia of her enemies possible conspiracies, Cersei has the alchemist pyromancer, Wisdom Hallyne, burning whole the Tower of the Hand with a bit of wildfire.
Before he died, Lord Tywin commanded the maesters to heal the poisoned and suffering Ser Gregor Clegane, so that he could have been executed to appease Dorne, as Gregor had confessed his crimes in front of every Dornish noble in the capital city. Later Qyburn speaks to Cersei about the dying knight and believes Prince Oberyn Martell used magic to affect the manticore venom on his poisoned spear, to prolong Gregor's death. He shows great interest and fascination at the Gregor's agonizing death, calling his pain "exquisite".
He convinces Cersei to allow him to move Gregor deep into the black cells and experiment on him there, to gain knowledge of the magical poison that Oberyn used.
Unlike Jaime, Cersei likes Qyburn and orders that Qyburn be given gold for his equipment and to buy clean new clothing to replace his dirty old rags. Jaime is disturbed by how close Cersei has become with the disgraced former maester, but she dismisses his concerns. Cersei has quarrels with both her brother Jaime and her uncle Kevan, which leads the latter to leave her alone to rule. Wanting the freedom to rule, Cersei gets rid of Jaime by sending him in the riverlands with many powerful people to lift the Second Siege of Riverrun.
She appoints Qyburn as master of whisperers to replace the missing Varys. The former maester spends silver to develop a network of informants. Qyburn takes Varys's place and honorary title on the small council, to the absolute disgust of Pycelle.
Part of the payment for Qyburn's services to Cersei includes permission to experiment on various prisoners and enemies of Cersei's. These typically prove fatal to the subject. Cersei believes that Jon Snow, the new Lord Commander of the Night's Watch, is aiding King Stannis Baratheon in order to get revenge for House Stark, so Qyburn suggests that the crown deal with Jon Snow by sending one hundred men to the Wall, ostensibly to take the black, but in actuality to assassinate him. Gregor Clegane reportedly dies in Qyburn's underground laboratory.
Cersei allows Qyburn to use various prisoners for his experiments, which typically prove fatal to the subject. As Qyburn prefers women for his studies, the prisoners include Cersei's former handmaiden, Senelle, and some female puppeteers who had been arrested for performing a treasonous play.
Thinking about what's going on in Qyburn's dungeons, Cersei recalls a "foul thing screaming in the darkness". When Lady Falyse Stokeworth comes to Cersei in despair after the failure of their plans to kill Ser Bronn of the Blackwater, who had married Falyse's sister Lollys, Cersei tells Qyburn to take her for his experiments, to make her disappear, so that no one will ever hear about this, especially Tyrion. While performing his experiments and torture in the dungeons, Qyburn wears roughspun wool and a blacksmith's leather apron.
With Loras gone Qyburn suggests to Cersei that the Kingsguard may need a replacement in case Loras dies. Qyburn orders a massive suit of armor for his proposed champion, though it is supposedly too large and heavy to be worn by any man. Cersei has a nightmare about Maggy the Frog's prophecy of her future, and the next morning asks Qyburn about it.
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