Chapter Summaries

Aemon rejected Corlys’s plan for his children to inherit Driftmark and discussed his engagement to Laena with Rhaenys. In King’s Landing, Otto explained his role in helping Viserys negotiate with the Sea Snake and Daemon; after Aemon learned Daemon was secretly making contacts, the family gathered for a summons to the Small Council.

• Aemon refused Corlys’s proposal to have a child with Laena inherit Driftmark under the Velaryon name, and Rhaenys agreed to try to persuade Corlys to speak honestly with Viserys.
• Otto told Alicent that Viserys relied on him to handle the difficult negotiations with the Sea Snake and Daemon, while Alicent worried about the royal family’s safety.
• Aemon learned that Daemon had searched Silk Street and Flea Bottom for White Worm Xiao Mei and tried to contact former Gold Cloaks, then complained to Rhaenyra about him.
• Aegon charged at Helena’s red-furred rabbit, was knocked down, and was then beaten by Rhaenyra after continuing to attack it.
• Aemon and Rhaenyra discussed Daemon’s future and his marriage to Lady Rhea before a Kingsguard summoned them to the Small Council.

At the Small Council, Aemon proposed a Dragon Clan Council to give the royal family’s Dragonriders military authority, but Viserys rejected the idea before Rhaenyra argued for it. Viserys later reconsidered and decided the council could be formed as a family gathering, while Rhaenyra warned Aemon that her father was secretly plotting with the Sea Snake and Daemon.

• Viserys and Otto presented their plan for rewarding the Sea Snake and Daemon for conquering the Three Daughters Kingdom, while Aemon was named Prince of Myr.
• Aemon proposed a Dragon Clan Council, but Viserys objected that it would turn Dragonriders and dragons into weapons.
• Rhaenyra defended the proposal, challenging Viserys and the council members over how they would control the Sea Snake and Daemon without it.
• Viserys ended the meeting, then reconsidered the council as a way for the royal family to gather and strengthen its bonds.
• Rhaenyra warned Aemon that Viserys might have a secret arrangement with the Sea Snake and Daemon, and urged him to be careful.

Viserys bestowed territories and titles on Aemon, Corlys, and Daemon, while binding Aemon’s future children to inherit Driftmark through House Velaryon. The ceremony ended with Daemon requesting that his marriage to Lady Rhea be dissolved.

• Aemon arrived at the Throne Hall as the princes and ministers gathered for Viserys’s announcements.
• Lyonel declared Aemon Prince of Myr and Prince of the Stepstones, prompting surprise and anger among the assembled nobles.
• Viserys appointed Corlys Duke of Tyrosh and Master of Ships, and decreed that a future child of Aemon and Laena would inherit Driftmark under the Velaryon name.
• Viserys named Daemon Prince of Lys and declared Aemon his heir, and Daemon accepted the arrangement.
• Daemon asked Viserys to dissolve his marriage to Lady Rhea of Runestone and restore his freedom.

Daemon revealed that he had married Marana of the Rogare Family and wanted to end his marriage to Lady Rhea, but Viserys refused. Aemon confronted Viserys over the agreement changing one of his children’s surname to inherit Driftmark, then decided to stop involving himself in the older generation’s affairs and sought to gain something from the coming Dragon Clan Council.

• Daemon told Viserys that Marana was carrying his child and demanded freedom from his marriage to Lady Rhea, but Viserys rejected him and drove him from the hall.
• Viserys and Daemon argued over Daemon’s previous lost child, and Daemon left while Aemon considered the burdens awaiting him.
• Aemon confronted Viserys about agreeing with Corlys to change one child’s surname and limit that child’s descendants’ right to tame dragons.
• Viserys admitted Laena had not known about the agreement, and Aemon accepted that he would not spend more effort opposing it before Viserys’s death.
• When Corlys and Tyland requested an audience, Viserys summoned the first Dragon Clan Council, and Aemon decided to secure benefits for himself.

The Dragon Clan Council confirmed Corlys as Master of Ships, appointed Tyland Master of Diplomacy, and approved Aemon and Laena’s betrothal despite Otto’s objections to multiple wives. After the meeting, Daemon vowed to dissolve his marriage, while Rhaenyra reported that the Iron Bank’s actions had hurt investments in Gulltown.

• Viserys appointed Corlys Master of Ships and gave Tyland the new Small Council post of Master of Diplomacy.
• Viserys announced Aemon and Laena’s betrothal, and Daemon challenged his brother over recognition of his wedding and child.
• Otto objected that Aemon’s multiple marriage violated the Faith’s traditions, but Corlys confronted him and Viserys upheld the arrangement.
• After the council, Daemon told Aemon he would dissolve his marriage, and Aemon dismissed him as an unqualified husband.
• Rhaenyra told Aemon and Laena that the Iron Bank was making things difficult after the Three Daughters Kingdom fell, forcing the sale of investments in Gulltown at a discount.

Aemon agreed to develop the Stepstones with Corlys, while insisting that Myr and the Royal Fleet also share in the venture. He returned to Gulltown with Rhaenyra and found Lord Bakin and Esenbar Arryn waiting to complain about the Iron Bank.

• Corlys proposed that the Velaryons manage the Stepstones' ports, taxes, and sea defenses in exchange for a share of the profits, and Aemon accepted.
• Aemon required Velaryon to help train a Myr navy that would join the Royal and Velaryon fleets in the Stepstones, and Corlys reluctantly agreed.
• Corlys offered Aemon a chance to deposit money in a new Tyrosh bank, while Aemon remained wary of the Sea Snake's motives.
• Three days later, Aemon and Rhaenyra flew back to Gulltown, where Laena stayed behind to prepare for her betrothal ceremony.
• At Good Fortune Tower, Lord Bakin and Esenbar Arryn greeted Aemon and angrily reported that the Iron Bank had gone too far.

Aemon learned that Johanna had a way to make the Iron Bank repay Gulltown’s investment and sent Rhaenyra to Braavos to collect it. He then returned to Runestone, where Lady Rhea approved his engagement to Jansiff, leaving him planning the ceremony there.

• Aemon read Johanna’s letter explaining that Myr Bank could use its debt to the Iron Bank to pressure it into returning Gulltown’s principal, and he resolved to support her banking plan.
• Aemon persuaded Rhaenyra to sail to Braavos with Lord Bakin and demand repayment, while Syrax escorted the fleet.
• Aemon welcomed the Vale’s allied army after it landed and prepared to reward its leaders at a banquet.
• At Runestone, Lady Rhea corrected Jansiff’s choice of Valyrian study books and offered her a proper book from her bedroom.
• Aemon returned to Runestone and announced that he wanted to become engaged to Jansiff, who accepted after Lady Rhea approved.
• Lady Rhea chose Runestone as the engagement venue, and Aemon privately reflected on Jansiff’s devotion and his complicated plans for the Vale.

Aemon returned to Myr and reviewed Johanna’s efforts to govern the city, then planned how to manage its large freed population and secure the Disputed Lands. He approved a new palace called Emerald Capital, but Grey Worm ended the chapter by reporting that Myrish mercenaries had destroyed a small town.

• Aemon arrived in Myr on Vermithor with Grey Shadow and learned from Grey Worm and Dai Anna that Johanna had opened a bank while the Unsullied and Ke En’s new navy maintained order.
• Johanna proposed creating a two-thousand-man City Watch, and Aemon refused to divert Unsullied troops to support Luo Bo against the rebellious Myrish mercenaries, deciding to deal with them himself.
• Aemon and Johanna agreed to move two hundred thousand people from Myr to River Valley Town, keep three hundred thousand in the Disputed Lands, and relocate the remaining freed population across the region to farm and build a new city.
• Johanna presented plans for a royal palace beside Myr Bay, and Aemon approved building it with Tarth’s white marble streaked with emerald-green veins, naming it Emerald Capital.
• As Aemon left, Grey Worm told him that Ser Robb had reported a small town destroyed by Myrish mercenaries.

Aemon and Vermithor destroyed a large force of Myrish mercenaries in the Disputed Lands, while Grey Shadow demonstrated his powerful dragonfire but fled after being struck. Aemon set out with Luo Bo to claim fertile territory and find a site for a new city, intending to train Grey Shadow along the way.

• Aemon learned that no one survived the rebels’ attack and that Robb was tracking the Myrish mercenaries.
• Aemon fed Vermithor and flew with him to a camp of several thousand Myrish mercenaries in the Disputed Lands.
• Aemon and Vermithor burned through the mercenaries’ camp, trapping the fleeing survivors until only a few hundred remained.
• Luo Bo arrived with the Vale Knights, and Aemon summoned Grey Shadow with the War Horn to attack the remaining mercenaries.
• Grey Shadow bombarded the mercenaries with dragonfire, then fled after Vermithor struck him when he demanded a reward.
• Aemon ordered Vermithor to kill the last mercenaries and told Luo Bo they would claim fertile Myrish territory while seeking a site for a new city.

Aemon discovered the site for a new city at the end of Valyrian Road and planned to grant twenty baronies to develop the surrounding land. After spending the night with Johanna, he was caught out when Rhaenyra returned to Myr and recognized Johanna's scent on him.

• Aemon rode along Valyrian Road, found two large lakes at its end, and chose the area for a new city.
• Aemon told Luo Bo he would grant twenty baronies, and Luo Bo agreed to help develop the land.
• Aemon named the lakes Long Lake and Igor Lake and the new settlement Long Lake Town.
• Johanna coaxed Aemon into spending the night in her room, and he woke the next morning exhausted and aggrieved.
• Rhaenyra returned with Lord Bakin and the Gulltown fleet after recovering one million Gold Dragons from the Iron Bank.
• Rhaenyra smelled rose petals on Aemon and confronted him about enjoying newlywed bliss in Runestone before ordering breakfast.

After Rhaenyra and Aemon toured Myr and trained their dragons, Syrax laid a clutch of five eggs. Aemon later dreamed of Lonely Mountain splitting open beneath a Bronze Divine Tree and considered buying the Flame Hammer card to investigate the omen.

• Aemon showed Rhaenyra plans for Long Lake Town and Emerald Capital, then took her to explore Myr.
• Aemon coached Rhaenyra through difficult dragonriding maneuvers as Syrax attacked Myrish mercenaries with dragonfire.
• Syrax nearly provoked Vermithor into a fight, but Aemon used the Binding Spell to calm and restrain her.
• Syrax laid five dragon eggs, and Aemon carefully gathered them while Rhaenyra celebrated the clutch.
• Aemon dreamed that Lonely Mountain split open to reveal a Bronze Divine Tree, then examined his magic cards and considered the Flame Hammer's power to shift the earth's veins.

Aemon and Rhaenyra negotiated a trade agreement and marriage alliance with Dorne on the Stepstones, then returned to King's Landing. Viserys learned from letters that the Three Daughters Kingdom had brought dragon eggs back from Ancient Valyria and reacted with fury.

• Aemon tested the Flame Hammer and discovered that charging it with his own magic would take years, then went to sleep while Rhaenyra awoke from a dream of a green dragon.
• Aemon and Rhaenyra traveled to the Stepstones, where Corlys showed them the port and defenses he had built on Bloodstone Island.
• Aemon, Rhaenyra, Corlys, and Tyland negotiated quarterly trade with Prince Qoren and agreed to a future marriage alliance involving Qoren's heir, Alisandra Martell.
• Aemon and Rhaenyra left the Stepstones and returned to King's Landing, where Aemon checked on the newly laid dragon eggs and the growing dragon Arrax.
• Viserys read letters from Johanna and Corlys and learned that the Three Daughters Kingdom had brought a clutch of dragon eggs back from Ancient Valyria.

Aemon learned that Tyroshi Mercenaries had recovered a clutch of possibly viable dragon eggs from Valyria and were carrying them across the Dothraki Great Grass Sea. He set out with Laena and Rhaenyra to retrieve the eggs, and the chapter ended as they spotted the mercenaries traveling with a Dothraki tribe.

• Viserys convened an emergency meeting after the Sea Snake reported that Tyroshi Mercenaries had found dragon eggs in the Smoking Sea and that a buyer in Braavos was offering a vast sum for them.
• Aemon volunteered to retrieve the eggs, and Laena and Rhaenyra joined him; they agreed to leave King's Landing together the next day.
• Aemon examined the Flame Hammer before departure and wondered about the omens in his dreams, while Laena and Rhaenyra arrived armed with their own forged weapons.
• Aemon, Laena, and Rhaenyra flew their dragons across the Dothraki Great Grass Sea, following a migration trail toward Slaver's Bay.
• The riders spotted a Dothraki tribe traveling with Tyroshi Mercenaries and their wagons, and Aemon urged Vermithor into a dive toward them.

Aemon learned that the Tyroshi mercenaries had taken seven dragon eggs to Meereen, then joined forces with Aomkaao’s Dothraki Khalasar and returned to Astapor. After destroying Yunkai’s army with Vermithor and the cavalry, he prepared to march on Meereen and reclaim the eggs.

• Aemon discovered that the Tyroshi mercenaries had taken seven dragon eggs, including one living green egg, to Meereen under the Great Masters’ protection.
• Aomkaao offered his Dothraki Khalasar’s help, and Aemon accepted so they could attack Meereen together.
• Aemon scouted Yunkai and found its army fighting Astapor, then Vermithor’s dragonfire and the Dothraki cavalry routed Yunkai’s forces.
• Aemon returned to Astapor, where the Small Council welcomed him and agreed to follow him against Yunkai and Meereen.
• Aemon and Laena concluded that they would have to fight Meereen the next day to reclaim the dragon eggs.

Aemon sent Aomkaao to secure Meereen through negotiation while he pursued control of Slaver's Bay and its dragon eggs. In Meereen, Aomkaao discovered that the Great Masters had killed Tyroshi mercenaries and was astonished when Babarod presented him with three dragon eggs.

• Viserys ordered Ser Harrold to increase Dragonpit patrols after learning that Daemon had been visiting Arrax and entering Dreamfyre's dragonpit.
• Aemon told Rhaenyra and Laena to wait while Aomkaao led the Khalasar toward Meereen to open its gates.
• Aomkaao rode into Meereen after Babarod Rians and the other Great Masters offered the Dothraki a lavish feast and gifts.
• Aomkaao realized that the Great Masters had killed Tyroshi mercenaries who had sought protection, while Babarod celebrated their deaths.
• Babarod presented Aomkaao with a chest containing three stone-coated dragon eggs, colored green, black, and yellow.

Aomkaao accepted Babarod’s dragon eggs as part of a plan to help Aemon take Meereen, then led a Dothraki attack at the Great Arena. Aemon arrived on Vermithor and devastated the slave soldiers, leaving the Great Masters trapped before him.

• Babarod gave Aomkaao three petrified dragon eggs to win his support, and Aomkaao secretly sent word to Aemon about them.
• Aemon and Rhaenyra discussed the eggs, and Aemon planned to attack Meereen the next day.
• At the Great Arena, Aomkaao killed Babarod and ordered the Dothraki to attack the Great Masters and slave soldiers.
• The arena gates shut, and the Dothraki were surrounded as slave soldiers killed many of them and wounded Aomkaao.
• Aemon arrived on Vermithor, whose dragonfire killed or wounded more than half the slave soldiers before the dragon landed and blocked the Great Masters’ escape.

Aemon and the Dothraki conquered Meereen, and Aemon and Rhaenyra searched Babarod’s Great Pyramid for dragon eggs. They found an apparently viable green egg and magical relics, while the chapter ended with Rhaenyra suddenly retching and Aemon wondering if she was pregnant.

• Aemon forced the Great Masters to surrender, then ordered Vermithor to burn them and smash open the Great Arena gates for the Dothraki.
• Vhagar and Syrax helped the Dothraki overwhelm Meereen, while Vermithor burned the guards at the Great Pyramid.
• Aemon and Rhaenyra found Babarod’s secret room, where Aemon killed a Green Saintess as she began casting a spell and collected her magical relics.
• Aemon discovered three petrified dragon eggs and a living green dragon egg, while his panel granted him magic essence and lightning magic.
• Rhaenyra suddenly retched, and Aemon looked at her abdomen and wondered whether she was pregnant.

Rhaenyra was confirmed to be two months pregnant after Aemon and Laena returned to Meereen, where Aemon planned their departure and a puppet government. In King's Landing, Viserys learned that Daemon had stolen a dragon egg and named his newborn son Aegon, but Rhaenyra's pregnancy lifted his spirits, and he ordered Daemon to return or lose the Targaryen name.

• Aemon discovered that Rhaenyra was pregnant and supported her as she rested and ate; Meereenese scholars confirmed the child was healthy and about two months along.
• Laena returned to Meereen and learned that Rhaenyra was pregnant; Aemon accepted three petrified dragon eggs from Aomkaao's Bloodrider and planned to leave Meereen by dragonback.
• At the Small Council, Viserys learned that Daemon had stolen one of Syrax's dragon eggs and that his newborn son had been named Aegon.
• Alicent arrived with Daemon's letter and condemned him for naming his bastard Aegon, while Viserys raged over the theft and insult.
• Mellos read Aemon and Rhaenyra's letter, revealing Rhaenyra's pregnancy and the discovery of a dragon egg that could still hatch; Viserys rejoiced at becoming a grandfather.
• Viserys ordered Daemon to return to King's Landing with the dragon eggs and his son, warning that he would strip Daemon of the Targaryen name if he refused.

Aemon returned to King's Landing with Rhaenyra and recovered dragon eggs, while Viserys celebrated their arrival and Rhaenyra's pregnancy. After learning Daemon had placed a stolen dragon egg in his newborn bastard's cradle, Aemon resolved to make him return it.

• Viserys welcomed Aemon and Rhaenyra back to King's Landing and eagerly inspected the six petrified eggs and the vivid green Ancient Valyrian dragon egg.
• Aemon and Rhaenyra claimed the green egg for their unborn child, and Viserys agreed to let them place it in the baby's cradle.
• Aemon noticed Daemon was absent, then learned from Alicent that Daemon had fathered a child in Lys and put a stolen dragon egg in the bastard's cradle.
• Aemon said Daemon could pursue his own marriage plans but had to return the egg, and he resolved to use Caraxes to reclaim it if necessary.

Daemon returned to King's Landing with Marana, their baby, and a dragon egg, then reconciled outwardly with Viserys at the feast. Aemon remained wary of Daemon and proposed ways to protect his family, ending by asking whether Viserys would object to Daemon and Marana dissolving their marriage.

• Viserys received a letter from Lys, and Daemon later arrived in King's Landing with Marana, their swaddled baby, and a dragon egg.
• Daemon told Viserys he had married Marana in Lys, but Viserys challenged his choices and remained angry about his conduct.
• At the feast, Viserys welcomed Aemon and pregnant Rhaenyra, while Daemon watched the family gathering and reflected on his return home.
• Daemon advised Aemon to care for Rhaenyra during her pregnancy, then sat apart as Viserys celebrated his children's coming child.
• Aemon warned Viserys that Daemon's apparent obedience might conceal another scheme and said he would show no mercy if Daemon harmed his family again.
• Aemon asked Viserys whether he would object if Daemon and Marana dissolved their marriage.