Readers have been patiently waiting, well some not so patiently, for the sixth book in George R.R. Martin’s fantasy series A Song Of Ice And Fire. (For those that may not know, that is the original name of the Game Of Thrones series.) While there is still no set date for when the book will finally be released, Martin has at least offered a small taste of what is to come in the series.

Over on his official site, Martin has released a sample chapter from the next book, The Winds Of Winter, for fans to dip back into the series with.

WARNING: SPOILERS AHEAD

The chapter is set from the point of view of Alayne Stone, the alter-ego take by Sansa Stark while hiding in the Eyrie with Petyr Baelish. After the death of her aunt Lysa, Alayne has taken over caring for young Robin Arryn, the Lord of The Vale, and Baelish has set up a contest for Robin’s banner men to create their own collection of personal guards for the young Lord. Petyr has also arranged for Alayne to merry Robin’s cousin Harrold Hardyng, the heir to The Vale should Robin die. With Robin’s ill health, and Petyr’s plans to hold The Vale, his death is almost certain.

Upon greeting Harrold and his family at the gates upon their arrival he is quite cold with her, feeling he is too good to be betrothed to a bastard child of Petyr Baelish, but Baelish assures her that his place as the Lord Protector will entice Harrold into persuing Alayne at the feast that night. As the feast turns to dancing, Alayne finds that Petyr was right, and she begins to work her charm on the heir to The Vale.

Image: Yulia Nikolaeva

The excerpt shows just how drastic of a change Sansa has gone through by assuming the identity of Alayne and working with Littlefinger in his plans to claim The Vale as his own. It will be interesting to see how her metamorphosis plays out in the show as well.

Read the excerpt for yourself here, and let us know what you think in the comments below.