ABSTRACT
Arriving in Qarth, Daenerys Targaryen feels that “All the colors that had had been missing from Vaes Tolorro had found their way to Qarth; buildings crowded around her as fantastical as fever dreams in shades of rose, violet and umber” (Clash 384). Buildings do not move independently. This is a compositional flourish of Martin’s, meant to underscore the novelty of the colours of Qarth to a focaliser who has just spent months squatting in a dusty ruin. One aspect of Qartheen society, however, is presented as quite genuinely magical. Among the delegation sent to meet Daenerys is the “great warlock” (183) Pyat Pree. “Come with me to the House of the Undying,” he suggests, “and you shall drink of truth and wisdom” (385). His compatriots dismiss this purported wizard as a charlatan. “Pyat Pree has blue lips” observes Xaro Xhoan Daxos,
“and it is truly said that blue lips speak only lies. Heed the wisdom of one who loves you. Warlocks are bitter creatures who eat dust and drink of shadows. They will give you nought. They have nought to give.” (525)
