George R.R. Martin voices Maester Martin, a minor character who is apparently taking years to complete his history book, an obvious in-joke at Martin's infamously long writing process.
There is a strong symbolism in the coats of arms of the two protagonists' Houses. House Westford's coat of arms is a black dog on a blue field, and Mors Westford is an extremely competent tracker and a skinchanger who travels around with a canine companion. House Sarwyck's is a broken sword on a red field: former knight Alester Sarwyck left Westeros and became a Red Priest; when he returns, he finds his House and his lands in a disastrous situation.