Not because I love the character so much as I will refuse to have anymore of time wasted with characters who die before making an impact worthy of the time spent developing them. I don't think you are wrong and I have assumed he wasn't dead since I first it but if he is that will be to much. I am only a reluctant Martin fan to begin with and think he is grossly over rated so it won't take all that much for me to give up on him.