Translator's questions, v2.

[TheMalcolm]

Description of sept at Quiet Island:

The sept had windows of leaded glass, wide doors carved with likenesses of the Mother and the Father, and a seven-sided steeple with a walk on top.

What is "a walk on top" here?

[thecryptile]

It's a wrap-around terrace or balcony.

[TheMalcolm]

It's a wrap-around terrace or balcony.

Thanks.

Suspected so, but it's always better to check.

[TheMalcolm]

Edwyn [Frey] had the hard mean mouth of a miser. “Lord Jaime,” he said, “must I suffer such discourtesy?”

Is it about physical appearance of his mouth or his manner of speech?

[Morienthar]

Edwyn [Frey] had the hard mean mouth of a miser. “Lord Jaime,” he said, “must I suffer such discourtesy?”

Is it about physical appearance of his mouth or his manner of speech?

I think it's a physical description.

[TheMalcolm]

I think it's a physical description.

Ok, then what it looks like?

Are miser known for having some particular mouths?

[Every]

Thin-lipped, never smiling, I'd imagine.

[TheMalcolm]

AFFC, scene on the gallows near Riverrun:

“Ser Ilyn,” said Jaime. “You heard Lord Tully. Do it.”

The silent knight gripped his greatsword with both hands. Long and heavy it was, sharp as common steel could be. Edmure’s cracked lips moved soundlessly. As Ser Ilyn drew the blade back, he closed his eyes. The stroke had all Payne’s weight behind it.

What actully happened? Have Payne striked on something or just prepared to strike (and was stopped by Edwyn)? If the former, why no effect? If the latter, why past tence, "the stroke had..."?

[Winter's Knight]

AFFC, scene on the gallows near Riverrun:

“Ser Ilyn,” said Jaime. “You heard Lord Tully. Do it.”

The silent knight gripped his greatsword with both hands. Long and heavy it was, sharp as common steel could be. Edmure’s cracked lips moved soundlessly. As Ser Ilyn drew the blade back, he closed his eyes. The stroke had all Payne’s weight behind it.

What actully happened? Have Payne striked on something or just prepared to strike (and was stopped by Edwyn)? If the former, why no effect? If the latter, why past tence, "the stroke had..."?

Payne has cut through the noose Edmure had around his neck:

Atop the gallows, the Lord of Riverrun stood staring at the trap beneath him. His feet were black and caked with mud, his legs bare. Edmure wore a soiled silken tunic striped in Tully red and blue, and a noose of hempen rope.

[TheMalcolm]

Payne has cut through the noose Edmure had around his neck:

No. He did this, but later, after Jaime had talked with Riman.

Edmure Tully had collapsed facedown on the scaffold when Ser Ilyn’s blade sheared the rope in two.

[Winter's Knight]

No. He did this, but later, after Jaime had talked with Riman.

Edmure Tully had collapsed facedown on the scaffold when Ser Ilyn’s blade sheared the rope in two.

Yes. From exhaustion-he couldn't bend his knees even because the rope would choke him. Once Payne severed it, he collapsed. Remember, he has been standing stock still and bolt upright twelve hours a day (sunrise to sunset) for several days now on prisoner's rations.

[JuicyM]

Miser: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f1/Maria_Fyodorovna-Miser.jpg/225px-Maria_Fyodorovna-Miser.jpg

[TheMalcolm]

Yes. From exhaustion-he couldn't bend his knees even because the rope would choke him. Once Payne severed it, he collapsed. Remember, he has been standing stock still and bolt upright twelve hours a day (sunrise to sunset) for several days now on prisoner's rations.

Yeah. He collapsed exactly after Payne severed the rope, which was after Jaime have dismissed Sir Ryman. Which proves Payne haven't severed the rope before. What he did before?

[Alytha]

In my understanding, Payne prepared to himself to strike, and Edmure thought he was going to kill him, instead of severing the rope, so he started praying (or cursing, possibly)

[Winter's Knight]

Yeah. He collapsed exactly after Payne severed the rope, which was after Jaime have dismissed Sir Ryman. Which proves Payne haven't severed the rope before. What he did before?

"Payne drew his blade back"-> Payne has unsheathed his sword and cuts through the rope right?

The thing is, Martin is engaging in a literary magic trick here: Edmure says "better the sword than the rope", that is he'd prefer beheading/dying by the sword over hanging. The next few lines are meant to convince the reader that Payne has killed Edmure.

Then Jaime turns aside to talk to Ser Ryman.

After which the reader is informed that:

Edmure Tully had collapsed facedown on the scaffold when Ser Ilyn’s blade sheared the rope in two. A foot of hemp still dangled from his neck.

ETA: "collapsed" implies that the action has just taken place but "had collapsed" means that some little time had passed since he keeled over.

[TheMalcolm]

ETA: "collapsed" implies that the action has just taken place but "had collapsed" means that some little time had passed since he keeled over.

So, you imply Edmur lays face down during all the talk between Jaime and Ryman?

Well, it's sounds possible, but somewhat hard to beleive.

[TheMalcolm]

Ok, maybe you are right. Need to reread.

[The Fallen]

` Think of it as if Martin had filmed it with a camera. Martin shows us Payne swinging, then he cuts away to Jaime talking, then when he turns back towards Edmure, he's laying on the gallows.

[TheMalcolm]

Her mount came to a sudden halt. Rough hands seized hold of her. She saw shafts of red afternoon light slanting through the branches of a chestnut tree. A horse rooted amongst the dead leaves after chestnuts, and men moved nearby, talking in quiet voices. - last Brienne's chapter.

Why a horse, not the horse? Is this animal different from "her mount"? If so, how Brienne can see it laying face down on the saddle?

[Alytha]

I'd say the horse rooting for chestnuts is a different horse. As there's more people about, it's possible that there's more horses too.

She can see it because they've taken her off the horse. It's not explicit, but it's what I would interpret from "Rough hands seized hold of her."