Game of Thrones Question for readers of the Book

[Cheesus Crust]

In season 2 episode 3, Maester Llewyn has a conversation with Bran regarding his dreams. He talks about how he has a chain made from Valyrian Steel.

My question is where do the Maesters get their supply? I tried looking this up in wikis and stuff and couldn't find an answer. Hope someone here can enlighten me.

 

[Cheesus Crust]

Nothing, just curious is all. From what I understand that stuff (Valyrian Steel) is extremely difficult to come by. Now if the Maesters give chains of the stuff like candy to anyone who studies "magic" I was just wondering if they would eventually run out of it is all.

 

[WolfThomas]

Nothing, just curious is all. From what I understand that stuff (Valyrian Steel) is extremely difficult to come by. Now if the Maesters give chains of the stuff like candy to anyone who studies "magic" I was just wondering if they would eventually run out of it is all.

Valryian Steel is pretty much Damascus steel with magic. It's rare, but there's still about a hundred or so swords floating around in the Seven Kingdoms, more across the Narrow Sea in Essos.

The Valyrian link in a Maester's chain is uncommon, I think Maester Luwin says only one in a hundred Maesters wear it, I assume they have a limited number which get returned when a Maester dies or gets taken off them if they're stripped of the chain.

As a link is small it's not like a lot of the metal is being used, either.

 

[Shock and Awe]

All thats ever covered is he gets it from the Citadel(like the Maesters' home base) when they study there.

 

[Toaster Hunter]

The link is pretty small, and the Citadel probably has a supply in reserve. Very few actually earn one, so it really shouldn't be much of an issue.