The House of Pahl Poisoned the Honeyed Locusts for Strong Belwas

[Skinchanging Sweetrobin]

Who poisoned the honeyed locusts? The Shavepate claims Hizdahr tried to poison Dany. However, Hizdahr really lacks a motive for that. So, others have theorized that the Shavepate was trying to poison Hizdahr.

I disagree.

I think the target was Strong Belwas the whole time. And he was targetted by the House of Pahl

I. Dany Likes Figs and Wine

An interesting thing about the honeyed locusts is that they are an exotic food from Meereen. This is a remarkably poor choice if the target were Dany. Figs or wine would have been a much better choice for something to poison as it was no secret that figs and wine is what Dany liked to eat and drink:

Instead she dispatched Jhiqui to the kitchens for a platter of flatbread, olives, figs, and cheese. She nibbled whilst she listened, and sipped from a cup of watered wine. (Daenerys I, ADwD)

“Help me dress. I’ll have a cup of wine as well." (Daenerys II, ADwD)

Her cooks had prepared them a magnificent meal of honeyed lamb, fragrant with crushed mint and served with the small green figs she liked so much. Two of Dany’s favorite hostages served the food and kept the cups filled (Daenerys IV, ADwD)

Dany sat amongst the rumpled bedclothes with her arms about her knees, so forlorn that she did not hear when Missandei came creeping in with bread and milk and figs. (Daenerys VII, ADwD)

Jhiqui brought a platter of figs and ham at midday. (Daenerys VII, ADwD)

Sure enough, Hizdahr is smart enough to stock the box with figs and wine for his bride:

Hizdahr had stocked their box with flagons of chilled wine and sweetwater, with figs, dates, melons, and pomegranates, with pecans and peppers and a big bowl of honeyed locusts. (Daenerys IX, ADwD)

And as expected, Dany went for the figs.

“I believe I will content myself with figs and dates.” (Daenerys IX, ADwD)

II. Hizdahr is Honest: Hot Spices Likely Do Not Agree With Him. He Prefers Peppers.

Honeyed locusts are also a very poor choice if the target were Hizdahr. The peppers in the box (I assume mild peppers) would have been a better choice.

Her cooks had promised her to serve the noble Hizdahr’s favorite meal, dog in honey, stuffed with prunes and peppers. (Danerys VI, ADwD)

Spicy honeyed locusts are unlikely to be eaten by Hizdahr as he claims hot spices do not agree with him. Based on his track record of honesty, it's likely he's telling the truth.

“I … hot spices do not agree with me. She was my wife. My queen. Why would I want to poison her?” (The Kingbreaker, ADwD)

Keep in mind, Hizdahr only says that the honeyed locusts are very tasty, which seems to be true. He never said they agreed with him or he "liked them" or they were his favorite. Many people with food allergies know the struggle of foods tasting good that they are unable to eat it.

“Those are very tasty,” advised Hizdahr. “You ought to try a few yourself, my love. They are rolled in spice before the honey, so they are sweet and hot at once.” (Daenerys IX, ADwD)

Although Dany and others do not think so, Hizdahr is a remarkably honest character in our story. I have not found a single instance in the story where he lies. And he keeps all of his promises. The closest thing he says that comes close to a lie is suspecting the Dornish or Daario of poisoning he locusts, but he may have actually believed those things. Here is Khrazz, the pitfighter's testimony:

“Hizdahr swears that the winners shall share half of all the coin collected at the gates,” said Khrazz. “Half, he swears it, and Hizdahr is an honorable man.” (Daenerys II, ADwD)

When asked questions that many, regular people would lie about, he stays honest. For example, when asked if he has new arguments for why the fighting pits should be open, he quite honestly says no:

"Have you brought new arguments?”

“Old arguments,” Hizdahr admitted, “new words. Lovely words, and courteous, more apt to move a queen.” (Daenerys I, ADwD)

When asked why he wants to be king, he admits that it is for both greed and helping his people:

“Why would you want to help me? For the crown?”

“A crown would suit me well, I will not deny that. It is more than that, however. Is it so strange that I would want to protect my own people, as you protect your freedmen? Meereen cannot endure another war, Your Radiance.”

That was a good answer, and an honest one. (Daenerys III, ADwD)

When asked if he lusted for the crown, he admits he did:

“Lust? You dare speak to me of lust?” The king’s mouth twisted in anger. “I lusted for the crown, aye … but not half so much as she lusted for her sellsword. Perhaps it was her precious captain who tried to poison her, for putting him aside. And if I had eaten of his locusts too, well, so much the better.” (The Kingbreaker, ADwD)

When talking about whether freed slaves are better off, Hizdahr gives a remarkably realistic view of it:

“Those bearers were slaves before I came. I made them free. Yet that palanquin is no lighter.”

“True,” said Hizdahr, “but those men are paid to bear its weight now. Before you came, that man who fell would have an overseer standing over him, stripping the skin off his back with a whip. Instead he is being given aid.”

It was true. (Daenerys IX, ADwD)

In fact, Hizdahr is overly honest. Here he calls a slave a slave and gets flustered about his own overly honest words:

The king looked around wildly. “Her? She’s nothing. A bedslave.” He raised his hands. “I misspoke. Not a slave. A free woman. Trained in pleasure. Even a king has needs, she … she is none of your concern, ser. I would never harm Daenerys. Never.” (The Kingbreaker, ADwD)

III Both Hizdahr and Dany Were Unlikely to Have Died From Trying the Locusts

The poison for locusts is remarkably weak. Why a weak poison?

Now, Strong Belwas consumes the entire bowl and lives. Dany thinks Strong Belwas weighs between 15 and 20 stone, which is between 210 and 280 pounds (95 and 127 kg).

Belwas was squat but broad, a good fifteen stone of fat and muscle, his great brown gut crisscrossed by faded white scars. (Daenerys I, ASoS)

The old man had the look of Westeros about him, and the brown-skinned one must weigh twenty stone. (Daenerys V, ACoK)

Let's split the difference and say 245 pounds (or 111 kg)

Say Dany is 100 pounds and Hizdahr 150. Did someone expect Dany to eat more than a third of the bowl or Hizdahr to eat more than half? That would be quite an assumption.

It seems the weak poison was to ensure that if either Dany or Hizdahr tried a few locusts (or even several), they would live.

In fact, the poison's weakness implies that the neither Dany or Hizdahr were the targets. The poison requires that a person not just try locusts, but eat a good deal of locusts. The target must be someone who really likes locusts.

IV Strong Belwas Loves Locusts

Strong Belwas, by chance, loves locusts.

"Locusts!" (Daenerys IX, ADwD)

He finds them so irresistible that he eats the whole bowl.

He had finished all the honeyed locusts. He gave a belch and took a swig of wine. (Daenerys IX, ADwD)

So, unlike Dany or Hizdahr, it is Strong Belwas who is likely to 1) try the locusts and to 2) eat a lethal dose.

Since Strong Belwas was a very famous pit fighter, finding out his favorite food would not be too difficult.

V Strong Belwas Had Enemies

Who would want to kill Strong Belwas? The House of Pahl:

It was true that there was blood between her and the House of Pahl. Oznak zo Pahl had been cut down by Strong Belwas in single combat. His father, commander of Meereen’s city watch, had died defending the gates when Joso’s Cock smashed them into splinters. Three uncles had been among the hundred sixty-three on the plaza. (Daenerys I, ADwD)

And what is the House of Pahl's temperament?

"Pahl, most of all. A house of women now. Bitter old women with a taste for blood. Women do not forget. Women do not forgive." (Danerys I, ADwD)

VI Opportunity?

Dany and Hizdahr procession mysteriously stops in front of the pyramid of Pahl.

BOMM, BOMM, BOMM, BOMM, BOMM, BOMM, came the drumbeats, faster than before, suddenly angry and impatient. Ser Barristan drew his sword as the column ground to an abrupt halt between the pink-and-white pyramid of Pahl and the green-and-black of Naqqan.

Dany turned. “Why are we stopped?”

Hizdahr stood. “The way is blocked.”

A palanquin lay overturned athwart their way. (Daenerys IX, ADwD)

VII Pahls Show Guilt Over Something

The House of Pahl is leaving before the rest of the patrons. In fact, most patrons are staying in their seat. Perhaps they knew about the dragon. Perhaps they just wanted to see Strong Belwas eat poison. Perhaps both.

Dany could see the Pahls streaming up the steps, clutching their tokars and tripping over the fringes in their haste to be away. Others followed. Some ran, shoving at one another. More stayed in their seats.

[SunflashJT]

Your insights to the story are truly enlightening. I have read the books 4 times and working slowly on my fifth and didn't catch that. You also provide such great support for your theories. Well done Skinchanging SweetRobin

[espresso]

Great post. Only thing that makes me support Hizdahr poisoning the locusts is that three dots after "I":

"I...hot spices do not agree with me". And Hizdahr seemed too fast and too unconvinced in blaming Quentyn for the poisoning. "That ... That was the Dornishman", Hizdahr says. Later, he says 'maybe' Daario poisoned the locusts. He cant blame both Daario and Quentyn at the same time, yet he does. Reznak told him that Quentyn did that, though I doubt he believes. I am sure he doesn't believe Daario did that; if he did, he should have blamed Daario first. Him blaming Daario makes me think he know it wasn't Quentyn either. How does he know?

[Toccs]

Great post dude. I'm not sure that I completely agree with the overall conclusion that it was all a plot to kill Belwas (it just seems too small time). But I certainly can't argue with the individual points you raise.

[Skinchanging Sweetrobin]

Great post dude. I'm not sure that I completely agree with the overall conclusion that it was all a plot to kill Belwas (it just seems too small time). But I certainly can't argue with the individual points you raise.

Belwas is small time, which is why I suspect House Pahl is also responsible for the Drogon's return.

But, with Belwas as the target, a parallel story appears between Belwas and the Mountain. In both situations, a vindictive family poisons a beast of a man in a manner that leaves him dying for days. In the end, the man emerges a completely changed man.

[Toccs]

That is a nice parallel.

[Skinchanging Sweetrobin]

Great post. Only thing that makes me support Hizdahr poisoning the locusts is that three dots after "I":

"I...hot spices do not agree with me". And Hizdahr seemed too fast and too unconvinced in blaming Quentyn for the poisoning. "That ... That was the Dornishman", Hizdahr says. Later, he says 'maybe' Daario poisoned the locusts. He cant blame both Daario and Quentyn at the same time, yet he does. Reznak told him that Quentyn did that, though I doubt he believes. I am sure he doesn't believe Daario did that; if he did, he should have blamed Daario first. Him blaming Daario makes me think he know it wasn't Quentyn either. How does he know?

I admit, his stammering is troubling, but he may just be nervous and grasping at straws.

I can't come up with any motive for Hizdahr killing Dany, though. Nor any reason why he would kill her in public using a weak poison on honeyed locusts. Hizdahr won. He got the pits re-opened and achieved peace with Yunkai.

[espresso]

I can't come up with any motive for Hizdahr killing Dany, though. Nor any reason why he would kill her in public using a weak poison on honeyed locusts. Hizdahr won. He got the pits re-opened and achieved peace with Yunkai.

Me neither, just that I found Hizdahr's actions suspicious. Maybe he didn't intend to kill Dany, but there is something fishy about him.

The Mountain vs House Martell was the first thing that came to my mind while reading the original post. Maybe the news of Oberyn poisoning Mountain even reached the Pahls, who might have liked the idea.

Dany may have considered him dispensable, but given how they admire pitfighting, Meereenese people must have viewed Strong Belwas as a valuable ally of Dany who had to be removed. What I like best about your theory is it is really smart, proving everyone wrong, since most people naturally assumes it was meant to poison Dany. If OP is right, the poisoning was a double bluff.

[The Smelly Peasant]

Belwas is small time, which is why I suspect House Pahl is also responsible for the Drogon's return.

really enjoyed your post. could you elaborate on how house pahl is responsible for drogon's return?

[The Smelly Peasant]

Great post. Only thing that makes me support Hizdahr poisoning the locusts is that three dots after "I":

"I...hot spices do not agree with me". And Hizdahr seemed too fast and too unconvinced in blaming Quentyn for the poisoning. "That ... That was the Dornishman", Hizdahr says. Later, he says 'maybe' Daario poisoned the locusts. He cant blame both Daario and Quentyn at the same time, yet he does. Reznak told him that Quentyn did that, though I doubt he believes. I am sure he doesn't believe Daario did that; if he did, he should have blamed Daario first. Him blaming Daario makes me think he know it wasn't Quentyn either. How does he know?

do you think that reaction might be due to hizdahr actually knowing of the Pahl plot to poison strong belwas - and by admitting as much, that would be a grave insult to dany (seeing that he promised her unity and end of violence if they married)?

just a thought...

[espresso]

Not to mention he offered her the poisoned locusts knowing they were poisoned?

[Toccs]

Great post. Only thing that makes me support Hizdahr poisoning the locusts is that three dots after "I":

"I...hot spices do not agree with me". And Hizdahr seemed too fast and too unconvinced in blaming Quentyn for the poisoning. "That ... That was the Dornishman", Hizdahr says. Later, he says 'maybe' Daario poisoned the locusts. He cant blame both Daario and Quentyn at the same time, yet he does. Reznak told him that Quentyn did that, though I doubt he believes. I am sure he doesn't believe Daario did that; if he did, he should have blamed Daario first. Him blaming Daario makes me think he know it wasn't Quentyn either. How does he know?

I think it's more just that he has been put on the spot and accused of a major crime, I doubt anyone wuld give an unflustered response. I am convinced from the OP of Hizdhar's honesty.

[SunflashJT]

really enjoyed your post. could you elaborate on how house pahl is responsible for drogon's return?

:agree:

[Driesel Snow]

Good post, I think based on evidence it is definitely plausible that he did not do the poisoning. I would have to re-read but didnt they start asking Hizdahr the questions aftert Ser Barristan killed his guards. I could understand him being a little nervous.

[Skinchanging Sweetrobin]

really enjoyed your post. could you elaborate on how house pahl is responsible for drogon's return?

Well, the connection is weak and my thoughts on the Pahls are half-formed, but I find the following about suspicious about the Pahls, Drogon and the Pale Mare.

1. Drogon

Our story opens with sheperds bringing in burnt bones. Drogon is eating livestock in a large area that Dany says is between Yunkai and up to the Shahazadhan river. Humans have so far been unmolested and the dragons have been eating livestock.

Drogon especially ranged far afield and could easily devour a sheep a day. (Daenerys I, ADwD)

"Must we pay good silver for every lamb that goes astray between Yunkai and the Skahazadhan?” (Daenerys I, ADwD)

Then, a man brings in the burnt little girl and Dany orders Drogon to be captured. Drogon resists at first, but then leaves.

Drogon hunted far afield, but when he was sated he liked to bask in the sun at the apex of the Great Pyramid, where once the harpy of Meereen had stood. Thrice they had tried to take him there, and thrice they had failed. Two score of her bravest had risked themselves trying to capture him. Almost all had suffered burns, and four of them had died. The last she had seen of Drogon had been at sunset on the night of the third attempt. The black dragon had been flying north across the Skahazadhan toward the tall grasses of the Dothraki sea. He had not returned. (Daenerys II, ADwD)

Why? Why has Drogon not returned? He is in a area that is rich in food and previous attempts to capture him were useless. Why did he leave after the third? Just fed up?

However, it seems he is still coming back down to the farm lands to eat sheep (then again, maybe the famers are lying). Something is keeping him out of Meereen, though. Fear of capture?

Farmers still came to her court with burned bones, complaining of missing sheep, though Drogon had not returned to the city. Some reported seeing him north of the river, above the grass of the Dothraki sea. (Daenerys IV, ADwD)

It seems the farmers aren't lying as when we finally see Drogon's cave, we do find farm animals in it.

One day she kicked at a cracked sheep’s skull with the side of a bare foot and sent it bouncing over the edge of the hill. (Daenerys X, ADwD)

Whatever he is eating, Drogon is larger - he has been well fed.

Ever the largest of her three, in the wild Drogon had grown larger still. His wings stretched twenty feet from tip to tip, black as jet. He flapped them once as he swept back above the sands, and the sound was like a clap of thunder. The boar raised his head, snorting … and flame engulfed him, black fire shot with red. (Daenerys IX, ADwD)

Yet, he lives in an area devoid of much food. The Dothraki Sea can't support Dany, yet Drogon is thriving:

She was hungry too. One morning she had found some wild onions growing halfway down the south slope, and later that same day a leafy reddish vegetable that might have been some queer sort of cabbage. Whatever it was, it had not made her sick. Aside from that, and one fish that she had caught in the spring-fed pool outside of Drogon’s cave, she had survived as best she could on the dragon’s leavings, on burned bones and chunks of smoking meat, half-charred and half-raw. (Daenerys X, ADwD)

So, it's quite likely that Drogon is simply flying to farm land, eating and then heading home. But, I wonder why. Why live so far from your food? Fear from predators? Then why would Viserion and Rhaegal stick around in the city?

Then, he returns randomly...for a boar. Going for a boar is interesting when he's been eating mainly cows, sheep, lamb and goats.

“One calf and three goats. The rest will be sheep or lambs, no doubt.” (Daenerys I, ADwD)

Meereen has pigs, but we don't hear about Drogon eating them.

Jhiqui brought a platter of figs and ham at midday. (Daenerys V, ADwD)

Maybe Drogon secretly likes pork or wants to try something new? Tyrion ponders this:

“This particular dragon has already evinced a fondness for roast pork. And roast dwarf is twice as tasty.” (Tyrion X, ADwD)

But, then again, Tyrion was just out there with a pig and Drogon did not come.

The battle was followed by the day’s first folly, a tilt between a pair of jousting dwarfs, presented by one of the Yunkish lords that Hizdahr had invited to the games. One rode a hound, the other a sow. (Daenerys IX, ADwD)

Perhaps Drogon smelled the boar's blood:

"He will be awash in blood before he falls, you shall see.” (Daenerys IX, ADwD)

But, Drogon wouldn't be able to smell the boar's blood all the way from the Dothraki Sea. He must have already been in the vicinity of the city. A place he avoided before.

So, we have three big questions that are unanswered:

1) Why did Drogon leave when he did?

2) Why did Drogon return when he did?

3) Why did Drogon go for the boar?

And, of course, we have the Pahls leaving first. Maybe its over Strong Belwas and the locusts, but the Pahls are acting different from everyone else. Most people are shocked and staying put.

Dany could see the Pahls streaming up the steps, clutching their tokars and tripping over the fringes in their haste to be away. Others followed. Some ran, shoving at one another. More stayed in their seats. (Daenerys IX, ADwD)

My crackpot theory: the Pahls lured Drogon back to the city with either magic or the use of pig's blood. Perhaps they have a pig farm in the hills and have been getting Drogon addicted to pork.

2. The Pale Mare

Next we have the Pale Mare.

“He came out of the morning mists, a rider on a pale horse, dying. His mare was staggering as she approached the city gates, her sides pink with blood and lather, her eyes rolling with terror. Her rider called out, ‘She is burning, she is burning,’ and fell from the saddle. This one was sent for, and gave orders that the rider be brought to the Blue Graces. When your servants carried him inside the gates, he cried out again, ‘She is burning.’ Under his tokar he was a skeleton, all bones and fevered flesh.” (Daenerys V, ADwD)

Now, the Blue Graces say the man comes from Astapor.

“ ‘She is burning,’ ” Daenerys repeated. “Who is she?”

“Astapor, Your Radiance,” said another of the Blue Graces. “He said it, once. He said ‘Astapor is burning.’ ” (Daenerys V, ADwD)

And we are led to believe that this man is from Astapor because Quentyn and Windblown talk about a flux and refugees:

“What Astapori still survive have come creeping from their hidey-holes, it seems. There’s nothing left in Astapor but corpses, so they’re pouring out into the countryside, hundreds of them, maybe thousands, all starved and sick. The Yunkai’i don’t want them near their Yellow City. We’ve been commanded to hunt them down and turn them, drive them back to Astapor or north to Meereen. If the dragon queen wants to take them in, she’s welcome to them. Half of them have the bloody flux, and even the healthy ones are mouths to feed.” (The Windblown, ADwD)

Except, the Blue Graces are lying. He's not from Astapor.

He wears a tokar.

Under his tokar he was a skeleton (Daenerys V, ADwD)

Tokars are an upper-class grament and incredibly impractical.

Walking in a tokar demanded small, mincing steps and exquisite balance, lest one tread upon those heavy trailing fringes. It was not a garment meant for any man who had to work.The tokar was a master’s garment, a sign of wealth and power. (Daenerys I, ADwD)

And we know the fate of the upper class of Astapor. They were enslaved.

The Butcher King had restored slavery to Astapor, the only change being that the former slaves were now the masters and the former masters were now the slaves. (Daenerys I, ADwD)

So, an Astapori in a tokar makes no sense. A master-turned-slave would not be able to work in a tokar. And a slave-turned-master would not have the practice to function in a tokar and find it chaffing.

"She is burning." is not referring to Astapor. It's something else.

Now, what is interesting is that the colors of the man are pink and white:

“He came out of the morning mists, a rider on a pale horse, dying. His mare was staggering as she approached the city gates, her sides pink with blood and lather" (Daenerys V, ADwD)

These are the colors of House Pahl:

Pahl were striped in pink and white (Daenerys IX, ADwD)

So, we have some big questions here too:

1) Now, if not Astapor, what is burning? It evokes the dragons, but how?

2) Why were the Blue Graces lying?

[SunflashJT]

Very very interesting!! I am still a fan of the idea that Drogon was drawn by the sound of battle and the smell of blood, but you make a good case SweetRobin.

[Beorn Snow]

V Strong Belwas Had Enemies

Who would want to kill Strong Belwas? The House of Pahl:

It was true that there was blood between her and the House of Pahl. Oznak zo Pahl had been cut down by Strong Belwas in single combat. His father, commander of Meereen’s city watch, had died defending the gates when Joso’s Cock smashed them into splinters. Three uncles had been among the hundred sixty-three on the plaza. (Daenerys I, ADwD)

And what is the House of Pahl's temperament?

"Pahl, most of all. A house of women now. Bitter old women with a taste for blood. Women do not forget. Women do not forgive." (Danerys I, ADwD)

poison is a woman´t weapon ... isn´t that said many times?

Pretty good theory actually.

[Edd fetch me the boo box]

So, did you make the youtube video, or just copy everything from it?

If you did make it, good work you are a goddamned genius.

[Amris1]

There is an alternative explanation as to what drew Drogon back to Meereen:

I believe he was responding to Dany's inner conflict.

Drogon's bond to her:

She had not yet ridden Drogon but the two were still bonded somehow with him being the one dragon who had always been closest to her, ridden on her shoulder, accompanied her to the House of the Undying, saved her there, burned several of her enemies etc.

Also his name suggests this, deriving from her lover Khal Drogo.

Dany's conflict:

Dany has two sides: She is a conqueror, but she is also a saviour.

The Meereenese knot is about Danys 2 sides conflicting with each other. She has conquered and now her saviour side come to the fore, tempting her to sacrifice herself - or rather sacrificing her conqueror side - in the sake of compromise for the best of her people.

But this went against her own instincts. The Meereenese chapters make it clear how much she hated having to make all these compromises instead of going the 'conqueror's' way - the violent way. She constantly had to persuade herself the peace she was achieving was worth all the sacrifices she made. Still she obviously hated it.

Now it all culminated in the wedding ceremony and the reopening of the fighting pits. The awful scenes going on there nearly pushed her over the edge. She actually stopped some performances because they demanded too much (compromise) from her. Still on her own she didn't have it in her to resolve the conflict. She was trapped in it.

The resolution:

In this kind of showdown-situation her dragon comes and rescues her. Carries her out of the catch-22 trap she was in, away from the people and their demands on her, keeps her from sacrificing herself.

And in the end we see her returning to her other - violent - side, symbolized by her dragon and incorporated by the words of her house: Fire and blood. And we hear 'The dragon plants no trees'.

Whether this resolution is a good or a bad thing is arguable and this thread isn't the place for that. I leave that open.

I think we see this resolution foreshadowed in the House of the Undying: Dany has the vision of 10.000 slaves of Yunkai calling her mother and grabbing her - and then it turns out they aren't just cherishing her - they are draining her, trying to take her fire for themselves, forcing her to sacrifice herself to them (in the shape of the Undying). And there already Drogon - her violent side - comes forth and rescues her.

The same repeats in the pits of Meereen.

The poor pig - and the pit-fighter- were just in the wrong place at the wrong time. The dragon was coming anyway (subconsciously called by Dany) and couldn't resist when he noticed the blood in the pit.

[Hodge son of Hodge]

So, did you make the youtube video, or just copy everything from it?

If you did make it, good work you are a goddamned genius.

I'd assume the latter, given that the date of the original post here is two weeks before the youtube video making the same arguments was uploaded.