Podrick Payne
| House / Order | House Payne (a poor cadet branch); squire to Tyrion, then Brienne |
|---|---|
| Race / Culture | Westermen |
| Status | Alive (as of A Dance with Dragons) |
| Origin | The Westerlands; The Riverlands |
| Born | c. 288 AC |
| Died | |
| Weapon | A squire's sword |
| Fate | Squiring for Brienne of Tarth; captured with her by the Brotherhood Without Banners |
| Portrayed by | Daniel Portman |
Podrick Payne, called Pod, is a shy, loyal young squire of House Payne, a poor and minor branch of the family that also produced the king's headsman Ilyn Payne. He serves first Tyrion Lannister and later Brienne of Tarth, and his quiet courage and steadfast devotion make him a quietly heroic minor figure of A Song of Ice and Fire.
Tongue-tied and easily overlooked, Pod nonetheless proves himself again and again, saving his master's life in battle and refusing to abandon those he serves.
Background
Podrick comes from an impoverished and obscure branch of House Payne, all but forgotten by their wealthier kin. Orphaned and neglected, he was passed along to service and assigned, almost as an afterthought, as squire to the dwarf Tyrion in King's Landing. Painfully shy, he speaks little and stammers, but he is observant, willing, and braver than his timid manner suggests.
Biography
A Clash of Kings
Pod serves Tyrion during his tenure as acting Hand. At the Battle of the Blackwater, in the thick of the fighting, Podrick saves Tyrion's life by killing Ser Mandon Moore, a Kingsguard knight who attempts to murder Tyrion amid the chaos, driving a spear through the assassin. Too modest and shaken to boast of it, Pod barely manages to convey what he has done.
A Storm of Swords
Pod remains loyally at the disgraced Tyrion's side through his fall and trial, one of the few who do not desert him. When Tyrion flees Westeros after killing his father, Podrick is left behind, masterless and adrift in the dangerous capital.
A Feast for Crows
Seeking a new master, Pod attaches himself to Brienne of Tarth as she searches the war-torn Riverlands for Sansa Stark. Though Brienne at first tries to send him away, the boy's persistence and loyalty win him a place at her side. He shares her hardships and dangers, fights beside her against the remnants of the Brave Companions at an inn, where both are gravely tested, and is captured along with Brienne by the Brotherhood Without Banners under the resurrected Lady Stoneheart, sharing her perilous fate at the close of the novel.
Character
Podrick is humble, loyal, and brave in an understated way, the very opposite of the boastful knights of song. His shyness and stammer make others underestimate him, but he possesses genuine courage and an unshakable devotion to those he serves. He is the kind of unsung, steadfast figure the saga quietly honors, a boy who does the right thing without expecting credit for it.
Relationships
Pod's loyalty to Tyrion, whose life he saves and whom he refuses to abandon in disgrace, defines his early arc. His devotion then transfers to Brienne of Tarth, whom he follows through danger and captivity, the two forming a touching bond of mutual loyalty between the plain warrior maiden and the overlooked squire.
Quotes
I'm not Sansa Stark... I mean, I'm Podrick. Podrick Payne.
He was going to kill you. I... I killed him. With a spear. (recounting the Blackwater)
In the television series
In HBO's Game of Thrones, Podrick was portrayed by Daniel Portman, in an expanded role. His arc follows the novels through his service to Tyrion and Brienne, then continues beyond them: he survives the Battle of Winterfell and the wars, and is knighted by Brienne as a member of the Kingsguard at the series' end. These later events have not occurred in the books.