Fans of HBO’s “Game of Thrones” received a surprise Thursday when author George R. R. Martin published a chapter of the upcoming sixth season in the series, “The Winds of Winter,” reports Variety.

Martin published the chapter, called “Mercy,” on his website. The release comes about a week before HBO debuts the fantasy drama’s fourth season.

One complaint fans of the book series have with Martin is his slow writing time, with each of his last two books taking five and nearly six years, as previously reported.

George R. R. Martin