Chapter Summaries

Aemon used Vermithor to repel Tyroshi raiders, then led forces to seize the Stepstones as the Small Council approved reclaiming the islands. After raising the royal and regent banners over Bloodstone Island, he learned that his men had captured pyromancers making Wildfire.

• Vermithor burned the Tyroshi Mercenaries attacking Tarth, and Earl Cameron reported the captured ships and prisoners to Aemon.
• Aemon ordered Earl Cameron to take three hundred men and the prisoners to the Stepstones.
• Tyland and Rhaenyra backed taking the Stepstones at the Small Council, and Viserys authorized Aemon to reclaim them.
• The Second Sons and Royal Navy seized the Stepstones, and Aemon raised the royal and regent banners over Bloodstone Island and Grey Gallows.
• Kohn Corbray brought Aemon a group of captured pyromancers who had been refining Wildfire.

Aemon learned that the captured pyromancers had little magic left, but their artifacts included a cursed Valyrian Steel ring. He used his Dragonlord blood and Fire Magic Power to remove its seal, revealing a three-cubic-meter storage space filled with ancient coins, rare ores, and books.

• Aemon questioned the bearded monk and learned the pyromancers had once served the former Tyroshi Archon and were still making unstable wildfire.
• The bearded monk demonstrated the Illumination Art with glass candles, and Aemon discovered he could communicate with magic power and cast a much stronger flash himself.
• Aemon found a rust-covered Valyrian Steel ring among the pyromancers’ artifacts and learned it was a Dragonlord relic sealed against anyone who tried to open it.
• The bearded monk explained that the seal required Fire Magic Power and a blood sacrifice, and Aemon used his own blood and magic to break it.
• Aemon uncovered a dragon-shaped ring that held a three-cubic-meter space containing ancient gold coins, unfamiliar ores, and books.

Aemon discovered and mastered the complete Binding Spell, improving his control of Vermithor and using the dragon to capture a fleet of Three Daughters pirates. He returned to Bloodstone Island determined to strengthen Vermithor and restore the glory of Ancient Valyria.

• Aemon read the Spatial Ring's books and learned about the Belleris Family, the ancient dragonlord families, and the scale of their power.
• Aemon found the complete Binding Spell in the Belleris Knighting Manual and studied its dragonriding and military lessons.
• After mastering the spell, Aemon led Vermithor against a fleet of Three Daughters pirates, burning the crews while preserving the ships and their cargo for the royal fleet.
• Aemon returned to Dragon Blood Fort and reviewed his improved skills, bloodline, and ability to command Vermithor.
• Aemon resolved to keep feeding Vermithor Bloodsource Fruits and raise him beyond Balerion's size.

Aemon strengthened his hold on the Stepstones while the Small Council debated the spreading war and Rhaenyra volunteered to confront Duke Boremund. Rhaenyra then confronted Alicent over her jealousy of Aemon, but left her with advice about her children’s dragon eggs and Arrax.

• Aemon deployed troops across the Stepstones, ordered captured pirates to build island fortifications, and kept the captured ships for now.
• Viserys defended Aemon’s campaign against Otto’s criticism, then agreed to summon Duke Boremund to explain the Baratheons’ aid to the Velaryons.
• Rhaenyra volunteered to deliver the summons herself by dragon, and Viserys reluctantly approved her mission.
• Alicent provoked Rhaenyra by suggesting Aemon would marry Laena, but Rhaenyra confronted her about her jealousy and made her promise to stay away.
• Rhaenyra told Alicent that Helena and the other children could choose new dragon eggs or spend time with Arrax before she left for Storm’s End.

Aemon learned that the blood-red crystals were Fire Essence Ore and joined the Velaryons’ campaign to drive the Tyroshi Mercenaries toward Myr. After the fleet’s victory, he acquired a Fire Worm Fruit and an Immovable Compass, while the unaffordable Hammer of Sea Water remained beyond his reach.

• Aemon forged Rune Armor for William, examined blood-red crystals, and identified them as spiritual ore.
• Aemon read his uncle’s letter warning him about the Three Daughters Pirates and decided he needed to expand his power beyond the Iron Throne’s control.
• Aemon arrived in Tyrosh, learned that the Myrish were stalling, and persuaded Corlys to let him join the campaign against the Tyroshi Mercenaries.
• Aemon discovered in the Fire Peak Illustrated Handbook that the crystals were Fire Essence Ore, which could be refined with blood and was guarded by Fire Dragon Worms.
• Half a month later, Aemon and the Velaryon Dragonriders routed the Tyroshi Mercenaries, and Aemon drew cards for the Fire Worm Fruit, Immovable Compass, and Hammer of Sea Water.
• Aemon bought the Fire Worm Fruit and Immovable Compass, and Vermithor reacted tensely to the fruit.

Aemon gave Vermithor the Fire Worm Fruit, and after a painful transformation the dragon gained more powerful, explosive dragonfire. As Vermithor celebrated its new strength with Aemon, Laena reported that Prince Qoren Martell had assembled a fleet and was sailing toward the Stepstones.

• Aemon returned to Tyrosh with Vermithor after the Tyroshi Mercenaries fled into the Myr Sea, then finished forging Laena a Fire Essence Ore sword named Dragonrider.
• Corlys asked Aemon to forge an heirloom sword for House Velaryon, but Aemon refused, and Laena explained that the materials and process were rare and dangerous.
• Aemon fed Vermithor the Fire Worm Fruit on a deserted Stepstones island and waited as the dragon endured a painful transformation.
• Laena arrived and told Aemon that Prince Qoren Martell had assembled a fleet at Sunspear and was sailing toward the Stepstones.
• Vermithor emerged from its transformation with stronger, explosive Bronze Dragonflame, then took Aemon flying toward Bloodstone Island.

Aemon’s fleet trapped a Dornish force near Grey Gallows and used Vermithor and Vhagar to force its surrender. At Storm’s End, Rhaenyra confronted House Baratheon over its support for the Sea Snake and warned of the consequences of rebellion, leaving Lord Boremund weighing the threat.

• Ross Allyrion ordered the Dornish fleet to launch a surprise attack on Grey Gallows, but royal and Gulltown fleets surrounded it from both sides.
• Aemon unleashed Vermithor’s dragonfire on the Dornish ships, and Laena arrived on Vhagar before the royal forces captured the surviving sailors.
• Aemon greeted the bound Ross and the surrendered Dornish sailors on Grey Gallows as the two dragons circled overhead.
• Rhaenyra arrived at Storm’s End on Syrax and told Duke Boremund that the Iron Throne suspected House Baratheon of aiding the Sea Snake.
• Rhaenyra warned Boremund that Aemon and Daemon would fight any rebellion, and Boremund considered the danger posed by the Targaryen dragonriders.

Aemon tightened the blockade of Dorne and sailed with Laenor toward Slaver’s Bay to buy an army for his campaign against Myr. During the journey, Laenor revealed that he had seen Corlys with a silver-haired woman and two young children, leaving Aemon to realize Corlys might have another family.

• Rhaenyra took Lady Elena for a ride on Syrax at Storm’s End, while Borros prepared to travel to King’s Landing in his father’s place.
• Aemon deployed nearly seven thousand sailors and mercenaries across the Stepstones, intercepting Free City ships, sinking Dornish ships, and ransoming captured Dornishmen.
• Aemon left Earl Cameron and Ser Lyon to guard the Stepstones, then sailed from Tyrosh with Laenor and Corlys’s fleet to seek Unsullied in Astapor.
• Johanna entered Myr with black-rose-marked cargo and a governor’s pass while the city remained crowded with defeated Tyroshi mercenaries.
• After a month at sea, Aemon and Laenor stopped on an island, where Laenor admitted he had seen Corlys with a silver-haired woman and her two silver-gold-haired children.

Aemon and Laenor traveled by dragon to Astapor to buy Unsullied, after Aemon learned more about Corlys’s mistress and saw the Smoking Sea and the Long Summer Land. The chapter ended with Aemon pressing the Good Master Grazdan mo Ullton to explain how Astapor sold its Unsullied.

• Aemon deduced that Marta was likely the granddaughter of Prince Aemon of Dragonstone and that Adam and Alyn probably had Targaryen blood through her.
• Aemon and Laenor left for Slaver's Bay on Vermithor and Seasmoke, pausing to view the Smoking Sea before flying across the Long Summer Land.
• Ten days later, the cousins reached Astapor, where their dragons caused panic as they landed in the Plaza of Pride.
• Aemon and Laenor spent more than half a month receiving lavish hospitality from the Good Masters, while the masters evaded discussions about selling Unsullied.
• Laenor raised the purchase with Grazdan mo Ullton, who brought up a war between Myr and Tyrosh, and Aemon demanded that he explain how the Unsullied were sold.

Aemon bought five thousand Unsullied from Astapor at a discount by agreeing to attack New Ghis, then conquered the city with Vermithor, Seasmoke, and the Unsullied. He freed the city's slaves and ordered the execution of its slavers, with Dai Anna taking part in the killings.

• Aemon refused Uldon's demand for a favor, threatened him with dragonfire, and negotiated a deal to buy five thousand Unsullied at a thirty-percent discount in exchange for attacking New Ghis.
• Aemon met Grey Worm and Dai Anna aboard the fleet as fifty warships and two dragons sailed toward New Ghis.
• Vermithor and Seasmoke broke New Ghis's defenses, and Grey Worm led the Unsullied in capturing the city.
• Aemon declared that New Ghis would have no more slaves, and Dai Anna helped gather enslaved people to testify against the slavers.
• Aemon ordered Grey Worm and the Unsullied to execute the accused slavers and other perpetrators, then handed Lady Forlorn to Dai Anna, who killed a slaver.

After freeing New Ghis, Aemon returned to Astapor and destroyed the Good Masters’ plot to betray him. He broke the whip controlling the five thousand Unsullied, won their allegiance, and led them into an assault on the city.

• Aemon left New Ghis after telling Grey Worm that the freed city’s people would have to defend their own freedom, and Grey Worm chose to keep his name.
• The Good Masters tried to trap Aemon and Laenor on the Worm River, but Dai Anna warned Aemon, who freed her and escaped the ambush with Vermithor’s help.
• Aemon killed the Good Masters and the ambushing soldiers, then returned to the Unsullied and seized the whip from their overseer.
• Aemon destroyed the whip and declared the Unsullied free, and Grey Worm and thousands of soldiers joined him against Astapor’s slave masters.
• Aemon led the five thousand Unsullied toward Astapor, while Vermithor shattered the Harpy statue above the city gate and the soldiers captured the entrance.

Aemon returned from Astapor to the Stepstones with Unsullied and freed young men, while Daemon pursued his own bid to rule Lys. Aemon learned that Myr had allied with Dorne, complicating his plans to conquer the city-state.

• Aemon reflected on abolishing slavery in Astapor, then sailed toward Lys with a fleet of more than a hundred ships, Vermithor, and Seasmoke.
• Daemon negotiated with Lysandro Rogare to become king of Lys and left for the Stepstones after Lysandro asked him to care for Marana.
• Aemon landed on Bloodstone Island with Unsullied and freed young men, and Laena and Rhaenys welcomed him back.
• Rhaenys told Aemon that Daemon had come to the Stepstones, claimed them, tried to recruit the Second Sons, and left a letter proposing a contest to conquer a Free Trade City-State.
• Rhaenys reported that Myr and the Tyroshi Mercenaries had fought for months, and that Myr had allied with Prince Qoren Martell of Dorne.

Aemon’s growing power and plans to conquer a Free Trade City-State alarmed the Small Council, while Dorne’s interference threatened his position in the Stepstones. After receiving Rhaenyra’s warning about Viserys’s concerns, Aemon flew Vermithor to Sunspear and confronted Prince Qoren.

• Lyonel reported that Aemon had returned from Slaver’s Bay with a fortune in cargo and thousands of Unsullied and liberated people, while Rhaenyra defended him to Viserys.
• The Small Council debated the Stepstones and the danger of war with Dorne, and Viserys ended the meeting troubled by the prospect of Aemon joining forces with the Sea Snake.
• Rhaenyra sent Aemon a raven warning him that Viserys might betray the cause.
• Aemon decided to deal with the Dornish threat and flew Vermithor from the Stepstones to Sunspear.
• Vermithor landed in Sunspear’s Green Leaf Forecourt, and Aemon greeted a stunned Prince Qoren.

Aemon forced Prince Qoren to negotiate by bringing Vermithor to Sunspear and threatening to isolate Dorne through control of the Stepstones. They agreed to discuss mutual trade, and the chapter ended with Qoren presenting his two-year-old daughter after Aemon asked her age.

• Aemon arrived at Sunspear on Vermithor, frightening Qoren and the Dornish soldiers into letting him enter.
• Aemon proposed a marriage alliance and mutual trade, then warned that his control of the Stepstones could cut off Dorne’s sea routes.
• Qoren weighed the threat and agreed to discuss mutual trade rather than risk war.
• Aemon and Qoren set preliminary trade terms, including Sand Steeds and Dornish fruit in exchange for salt, with the Stepstones as the proposed location.
• Aemon asked Qoren’s daughter’s age, and Qoren summoned his wife and their two-year-old daughter before asking whether Aemon intended to marry her.

Aemon returned from Sunspear and prepared to mobilize the realm for an assault on Myr, while Daemon seized control of Lys. In King's Landing, Aemon asked Viserys to approve a marriage match for Aegon.

• Aemon offered to arrange a marriage between Alyssandra Martell and one of Viserys's sons, but Qoren refused to send his wife and daughter with him and considered negotiating with Lys and Tyrosh instead.
• Daemon and the Rogare Family eliminated Lys's magistrates and defiant wealthy merchants, and Daemon demanded that Li Sangzhuo crown him king.
• Aemon flew from Sunspear toward King's Landing, planning to attack Myr, summon royal forces, and reinforce the Stepstones garrison.
• Aemon returned to King's Landing, reunited with Rhaenyra and his younger siblings, and asked Rhaenyra to mobilize the Royal Fleet at Dragonstone.
• Aemon visited Viserys and said he had found an excellent marriage match for Aegon, asking his uncle to approve it.

Aemon urged Viserys to consider conquering Myr and began plotting to turn the Vale, the Stepstones, and Myr into an independent vassal state. The chapter ended with Viserys asking Lyonel and Otto for frank advice on whether the Iron Throne should attack Myr.

• Aemon revealed that he had negotiated trade and a possible marriage alliance with Alisandra of Sunspear, but Viserys rejected a marriage alliance between Dorne and the Iron Throne.
• Aemon argued that taking Myr would counter the Sea Snake's capture of Tyrosh and Daemon's designs on Lys, and Viserys agreed to think over the proposal.
• Viserys told Aemon that Borros Baratheon was at the Red Keep and that Lady Elena was pregnant; Aemon realized House Baratheon had chosen a side against the Sea Snake.
• While reading House Belleris's ancient records, Aemon devised a plan to join the Vale, the Stepstones, and Myr into a vassal state, then asked Rhaenyra to have White Worm Xiao Mei deliver messages to the Sea Snake and Daemon.
• Viserys summoned Lyonel and Otto and asked whether the Iron Throne should attack Myr to counter the Sea Snake and Daemon.

Viserys approved a campaign to conquer Myr, while Daemon and Corlys secretly agreed to resist the Iron Throne’s growing power. Aemon assembled an army and dragons for the invasion, and Laena and Rhaenys arrived with two more dragons, bringing the force to six.

• Viserys agreed with Otto and Lyonel to attack Myr, though they debated whether Aemon should rule it and how to limit his growing power.
• Daemon was crowned king of Lys, then agreed with Corlys to join Prince Qoren, reclaim the Stepstones, and build enough power to bargain with the Iron Throne; Rhaenys overheard their plan.
• Cole, Garwin, Ilik, and Alick arrived undercover in Myr, where Johanna told them to wait for Aemon’s instructions.
• Aemon prepared thirty thousand soldiers and more than two hundred ships to sail for Myr, with Vermithor, Silverwing, Grey Shadow, and Syrax ready to accompany the army.
• Laena arrived on Vhagar with Rhaenys on a crimson dragon, bringing Aemon’s force to six dragons.

Viserys learned that Daemon and the Sea Snake had formed the Dual-City Alliance, while Aemon’s dragon host conquered Myr and helped the city’s slaves overthrow their rulers. Aemon declared slavery abolished, executed the slave masters, and left Myr under his rule as its people hailed him as the Dragon King.

• Otto told Viserys that Daemon had crowned himself king in Lys and allied with the Sea Snake, and Viserys chose to await news from Myr rather than mobilize.
• Aemon, Rhaenys, and their dragon host attacked Myr, while Johanna’s allies raised Black Rose flags and the slaves revolted against the governors and slave masters.
• Aemon’s forces captured Myr, secured its streets and harbor, freed its slaves, and confiscated nearly ten million Gold Dragons from the defeated rulers.
• Aemon gathered Myr’s people in Green Grass Square and announced that slavery was abolished and the city would become a free trading city-state under the Dragon King.
• Aemon and the Unsullied executed the captured governors and slave masters as the freed people acclaimed him as the Dragon King and Liberator of Slaves.

Aemon confronted Daemon and Corlys over their attempt to seize the Stepstones, and his duel with Daemon nearly triggered a clash between their dragons. After Aemon stopped the fight and proposed that the Velaryons return to King's Landing, Corlys and Daemon considered the offer, leaving their next move unresolved.

• Aemon and Rhaenys left Myr with the Royal Fleet, Crownlands army, and Vale coalition to reinforce the Stepstones while Grey Worm, Luo Bo, and Ser Lyon stayed behind with ten thousand troops.
• Aemon met Daemon, Corlys, and Laenor on Bloodstone Island, where Rhaenys urged Corlys to abandon his plans and Corlys declared that he wanted to fight for the rights he deserved.
• Aemon confronted Daemon over his claim to the Stepstones, and the two fought with Valyrian Steel swords until Grey Shadow attacked Caraxes and Rhaenys and Corlys intervened.
• Aemon sheathed his swords and let the Sea Snake and Daemon withdraw after Laena and Rhaenyra calmed him.
• Aemon asked Corlys whether the Velaryon Family remained a vassal of the Iron Throne and urged him and Daemon to return to King's Landing, where Corlys and Daemon considered the proposal.

Aemon returned to King's Landing with Corlys and Daemon after their conquest of Myr, Tyrosh, and Lys, prompting Viserys to weigh how the Iron Throne could handle their new power. Corlys and Rhaenys then offered Aemon Laena's inheritance of Driftmark if one of their children took the Velaryon surname, leaving Aemon to consider the condition.

• Corlys and Daemon sought Viserys's recognition for their conquests, but Viserys only pardoned their unauthorized war and delayed granting them titles.
• Viserys rejected Otto's plan to imprison Corlys and Daemon, and Lyonel advised that the Crown stall rather than risk a direct conflict.
• Aemon reasoned that bringing Corlys and Daemon under the Iron Throne's authority helped unite the Targaryen family, while the new territories needed time to recover.
• Rhaenys and Corlys met Aemon to discuss his marriage to Laena, and Corlys proposed holding the engagement ceremony on Driftmark because Laena would inherit it.
• Aemon questioned whether Laena's heirs would have to bear the Velaryon name, and Rhaenys confirmed that one child would need to take the surname for the child to inherit Driftmark.