Check out an excerpt from George R.R. Martin’s Fire & Blood

A Song of Ice and Fire author George R.R. Martin has a new book dropping this month…no, not that book. It’s Fire & Blood, an invented history of House Targaryen, spanning everything from Aegon Targaryen’s conquest of the Seven Kingdoms through the Dance of the Dragons, the Targaryen civil war that tore the Seven Kingdoms apart.

The Hollywood Reporter has published a meaty excerpt from the book, detailing the founding of King’s Landing, the development of the Small Council, and the formation of the Kingsguard.

The excerpt is lengthy, but what stood out to me was the story of how Aegon was convinced to create the brotherhood of the Kingsguard, the seven knights that would one day be dubbed the White Swords. Visenya, Aegon’s sister-wife, was key to that group’s formation:

"During the Dornish War, she took to wearing a shirt of mail night and day, even under her court clothes, and urged the king to do the same. When Aegon refused, Visenya grew furious. “Even with Blackfyre in your hand, you are only one man,” she told him, “and I cannot always be with you.” When the king pointed out that he had guardsmen around him, Visenya drew Dark Sister and slashed him across the cheek so quickly the guards had no time to react. “Your guards are slow and lazy,” she said. “I could have killed you as easily as I cut you. You require better protection.” King Aegon, bleeding, had no choice but to agree.Many kings had champions to defend them. Aegon was the Lord of the Seven Kingdoms; therefore, he should have seven champions, Queen Visenya decided. Thus did the Kingsguard come into being; a brotherhood of seven knights, the finest in the realm, cloaked and armored all in purest white, with no purpose but to defend the king, giving up their own lives for his if need be. Visenya modeled their vows on those of the Night’s Watch; like the black–cloaked crows of the Wall, the White Swords served for life, surrendering all their lands, titles, and worldly goods to live a life of chastity and obedience, with no reward but honor.So many knights came forward to offer themselves as candidates for the Kingsguard that King Aegon considered holding a great tourney to determine which of them was the most worthy. Visenya would not hear of it, however. To be a Kingsguard knight required more than just skill at arms, she pointed out. She would not risk placing men of uncertain loyalty about the king, regardless of how well they performed in a melee. She would choose the knights herself.The champions she selected were young and old, tall and short, dark and fair. They came from every corner of the realm. Some were younger sons, others the heirs of ancient houses who gave up their inheritances to serve the king. One was a hedge knight, another bastard born. All of them were quick, strong, observant, skilled with sword and shield, and devoted to the king.These are the names of Aegon’s Seven, as written in the White Book of the Kingsguard: Ser Richard Roote; Ser Addison Hill, Bastard of Cornfield; Ser Gregor Goode; Ser Griffith Goode, his brother; Ser Humfrey the Mummer; Ser Robin Darklyn, called Darkrobin; and Ser Corlys Velaryon, Lord Commander. History has confirmed that Visenya Targaryen chose well. Two of her original seven would die protecting the king, and all would serve with valor to the end of their lives. Many brave men have followed in their footsteps since, writing their names in the White Book and donning the white cloak. The Kingsguard remains a synonym for honor to this day."

Head to The Hollywood Reporter to read the full excerpt, or listen to it below:

I love that we get the names of the original seven Kingsguard. It’s also great to get more information on figures like Rhaenys and Visenya. It’s enough to make me want to see a series based on all of this. And who knows? According to Martin, “at least two” of the Game of Thrones prequels in development at HBO “are solidly based on material in Fire and Blood.”

Fire & Blood comes out on November 20. Pre-order your copy today.

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