Yeah Pate stole a key for him, right?
Yes. It was a key that is given to archmaesters that opens all the doors.
I'm gonna start a read tonight of all Citadel relates chapters in the book as well as all Euron relates chapters.
I totally, totally missed some serious shit in AFFC. Particularly as it relates the Glass Candles.
I'm no longer sure that Marwyn is particularly "good."
Why does George go out of the way in AGOT to tell us that the blood magician, Mirri Maz Durr was taught about human anatomy by...Marwyn?
Why does he tell us two books later that the only motherfucking guy at the Citadel who thought Qyburns research was just fine was...Marwyn.
And then you read the prologue of AFFc and it sure Seems like Marwyns apprentice, Leo Tyrell, is purposefully trying to get Pate alone so he can meet with the Alchemist/Jaqen.
But..the glass candles. I totally, totally missed this bit.
The sorcerers of the Freehold could see across mountains, seas, and deserts with one of these glass candles. They could enter a man's dreams and give him visions, and speak to one another half a world apart, seated before their candles. Do you think that might be useful, Slayer? (Samwell AFFC)
Oh...they can give a man visions and enter dreams huh? Well well well.
All these random Targaryens who thought they could do some sorta spell and bring dragons back to the world because of dreams/visions and ended up roasting themselves alive/dying before they could (The Mad King)...and here is Marwyn, a man who spent a good decade traveling from one corner of the world to the other. Training with Shadowbinders and Sorcerors. The one man at the Citadel who has his Valyrian Steel forged link because has studied the "Higher Mysteries." And the man who believes this
Old powers awaken. Shadows stir. An age of wonder and terror will soon be upon us, an age for gods and heroes.[1]
And, most importantly, this learned man who has studied the dark arts across the world and back is in possession of one of these candles and it's burning.
Is this where the fire priests get their visions in the flames from? Is this where the voice Varys heard in the flames comes from?
It sets up a very neat parallel between the ice and Weirwood magic and the fire and their candle/dragon magic.