The latest episode of Game of Thrones started with a bang—the fiery death of Lord Varys, Master of Whispers, executed by Daenerys for supporting Jon's claim to the Iron Throne. The long-time supporting character was dispatched within the first 20 minutes of the episode, but his death sadly wasn't exactly a shocker.

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In Episode Four, Varys learned from Tyrion of Jon Snow's true Targaryen birthright. While Jon didn't want to be Westeros's king and Tyrion was still loyal to Daenerys (his little escape plan for Jaime and Cersei aside), Varys was Team King Jon from the moment he learned the one-time bastard's real lineage.

He wasn't exactly quiet about his loyalties either, telling Tyrion of his support for Jon last episode and telling Jon himself at the beginning of Episode Five. But Varys has never been shy about the fact that his loyalty lies with the people.

Last season, Varys laid out his philosophy when Dany grilled him about his loyalties, asking him why he served both her father, Aerys Targaryen, and Robert Baratheon, who overthrew him.

"I wasn’t born into a great house," he told his new queen. "I came from nothing. I was sold as a slave and carved up as an offering. When I was a child, I lived in alleys, gutters, abandoned houses. You wish to know where my true loyalties lie? Not with any king or queen, but with the people.”

"Swear this to me, Varys,” Dany asked in response. “If you ever think I’m failing the people, you won’t conspire behind my back. You’ll look me in the eye as you have done today and you’ll tell me how I’m failing them.”

“I swear it, my queen,” Varys promised.

“And I swear this,” Daenerys promised in turn. "If you ever betray me, I’ll burn you alive.”

Varys didn’t keep his oath. Daenerys did.

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