Chapter Summaries

Aemon took control of Qohor after Morr surrendered, then examined a portrait of King Oryon that looked remarkably like him and pressed Morr about hidden ancestral treasures. Qohorik smiths arrived to submit and presented Aemon with a Dragonbone Bow and three Magic Arrows, whose purpose remained to be revealed.

• Morr persuaded Baelor and Sorrin to open Qohor's gates, and Aemon occupied the city without punishing the surrendering family.
• Aemon saw a portrait of King Oryon that resembled him and suspected Morr was hiding an ancestral treasure.
• Robb brought word that Qohorik smiths had arrived, and Aemon agreed to meet them before pressing Morr further.
• Almor and the other smiths offered to submit to Aemon and presented him with a Dragonbone Bow and three Magic Arrows.
• Aemon examined the bow, and Almor explained that the three Magic Arrows were the true gift.

Aemon received three enchanted arrows from Almor and recruited the Qohori smiths, who revealed that their masters had sacrificed themselves to forge the gifts. After making Qohor a vassal and securing its resources, Aemon acquired the Dragonstone Secret Art and learned that Cannibal’s bones could help produce Dragonstone.

• Almor explained the powers and limits of the arrows Xis, Nir, and Red Death, and Aemon accepted them as gifts.
• Aemon invited Almor and the other smiths to serve House Targaryen, and they swore loyalty after Almor revealed that three master smiths had died forging the arrows.
• Aemon demanded that Morr make Qohor a vassal, send Baelor and Thorin to King's Landing as hostages, surrender 1,700 Unsullied, demolish his estate for marble, and supply Nassos with food for three years.
• Robb took control of Qohor's 1,700 Unsullied and handed them to Dondarrion, while carts carried white marble toward Nassos.
• Almor gave Aemon the Dragonstone Secret Art, and Aemon learned that dragon bones and volcanic ash could be used to smelt Dragonstone.
• Aemon realized that the remains of Cannibal, buried beneath Dragonmont, could provide the dragon bones needed for the process.

Aemon discovered that Morr had hidden a Valyrian Fourteen Flames Survey Map, a dragon atlas that could sense and mark dragons. Aemon and Morr made Dragon Ink from Sheep Thief’s scales and tested it, causing a map of volcanic terrain to appear.

• Aemon learned from Corlys that Aegon had vanished into the city, then met Aenar, a bastard son of Saenella Targaryen, whom Corlys had captured.
• Aenar revealed that Morr secretly possessed an heirloom of the Dragon King, and Aemon summoned Morr to confront him.
• Aenar exposed the heirloom’s hiding place in King Oryon’s portrait, and Morr uncovered a translucent Fourteen Flames Survey Map.
• Morr explained that the map could sense dragons and mark them with Dragon Ink, though it could not control them like a Dragon Horn.
• Aemon and Morr made Dragon Ink using scales from Sheep Thief and applied it to the map, which revealed volcanic terrain.

Aemon returned to Westeros with the Fourteen Flames Survey Map after arranging Qohor’s affairs, and Daeron successfully claimed Tessarion and took his first flight. In King’s Landing, Aemon reunited with his family and showed Viserys the relic, leaving the King eager to use it with the Pyromancer’s Stone Sculpture.

• Aemon examined the Fourteen Flames Survey Map and confirmed it could record dragon marks and track the family’s dragons.
• Daeron mounted Tessarion, who flew wildly and ate a Mushroom Tree before carrying him safely on his first flight.
• Aemon arrived in King’s Landing, reunited with Alicent, Rhaenyra, Lucerys, and Viserys, and explained why he had left Morr in charge of Qohor.
• Rhaenyra told Aemon that Children of the Forest and Giants had arrived near White Garden City, and that Mushroom and two Giants had gone to Dragonstone.
• Aemon presented the Fourteen Flames Survey Map to Viserys, Lang Wu, and Orwyle and explained that he intended to leave it in the Red Keep.
• Viserys realized the map might help them use the Pyromancer’s Stone Sculpture to recreate the Fourteen Flames.

Aemon prepared Dragonstone for dragon breeding and began making Dragonstone building material before reuniting with his family on the island. Jaehaerys discovered that his Stream Fishing Rod could catch deep-sea fish and reveal treasure chests, but his final catch dragged him toward the sea.

• Aemon proposed establishing Dragonstone as a dragon nursery and moving older dragons to other volcanic sites, and Viserys agreed to begin preparations.
• Aemon made Dragonstone base material using dragon bone, encouraged Daeron after he tamed Tessarion, and helped Mushroom tend her Mushroom Tree forest.
• Aemon reunited with Rhaenyra and their children, gave Jaehaerys a Stream Fishing Rod, and learned that Jaehaerys had started raising blue chicks with Little Blue.
• Jaehaerys used the rod to catch strange deep-sea fish and opened treasure chests containing pearls, shells, and a giant clam while Sunny Day ate one of his catches.
• As Jaehaerys made one last cast, a powerful pull on the fishing rod began dragging him toward the sea.

Jaehaerys and his sisters were attacked by a Deep One while fishing on Dragonstone, but Sunny Day burned it to death. After the twins recovered from slight spiritual harm, Aemon suspected the Mushroom Tree had attracted the creature to the island.

• A Deep One dragged Jaehaerys toward the sea, but Baela and Rhea helped him hold on until he called Sunny Day for help.
• Sunny Day hauled the Deep One ashore, and Jaehaerys's sudden display of majesty let him order the dragon to kill it with dragonfire.
• Jaehaerys returned to Stone Drum Tower with a Valyrian Steel greatsword from a red treasure chest, named it Deep Sea, and told Aemon what had happened.
• Lang Wu examined Baela and Rhea, found slight spiritual harm, and identified the corpse as a low-danger Deep One; she said the twins would recover after sleeping.
• Orwyle said the Deep Ones might be connected to the Slapfoots of the Crab Claw Peninsula, and Aemon suspected the Mushroom Tree had drawn the creature to Dragonstone.

Aemon oversaw construction at Dorne's Arm, watched the wild dragon Urrax and Stormcloud grow, and received reports about Dorne from Lyonel and Larys. After learning Laena was about to give birth, he left the story with Corlys asking Viserys to have Baela adopted into House Velaryon as Driftmark's future heir.

• Aemon gave Dragon Tooth and Dragon Claw to Little Baela and Little Rhaena before flying to Dorne's Arm to oversee the Bridge of Progress.
• Aemon saw Urrax and Stormcloud growing quickly at First Flame Peak and planted a Mushroom Tree seed there.
• Lyonel reported on Dorne, while Larys claimed Prince Qoren was secretly communicating with the rebels; Aemon ordered him to keep watching Qoren.
• Aemon received Helena's letter saying Laena was about to give birth after she had escorted the Sea Snake back to Driftmark.
• Corlys asked Viserys to fulfill the agreement between their houses by having Baela Targaryen adopted under Laenor's name as Driftmark's future heir.

Aemon returned to Driftmark to confront Corlys over adopting one of his children, but Laena went into labor before they could settle the matter. After she safely gave birth to Mecha, Aemon agreed to a conditional adoption while insisting the children themselves would decide who joined Laenor’s line.

• Aemon confronted Corlys, who claimed the King had approved the adoption, and said he would agree only if he chose which child was adopted.
• Laena went into labor, and Aemon, Corlys, Viserys, and the others waited anxiously until she safely gave birth to a son.
• Aemon named the newborn Mecha Targaryen and comforted Laena, who worried about her family and opposed giving up one of her children.
• Aemon told Corlys that if Laenor remained childless three years after his marriage, one of Aemon’s children would be adopted into Laenor’s name.
• When Corlys tried to choose Baela, Aemon refused and said the children would decide for themselves.

In 129 AC, Aemon learned that Volantis had rebelled and agreed to send Jaehaerys, Baela, and Rhea to deal with it. The siblings prepared to depart under Jaehaerys’s lead, with Aemon instructing them to seek help from Laenor if needed.

• Ser Steve told Jaehaerys, Baela, and Rhea that Volantis had crowned Morr king and declared a New Valyrian Federation.
• Aemon read letters from the Sea Snake and Morr, dismissed Morr’s account as trouble, and decided Volantis could be dealt with.
• Aemond asked Aemon to send him against Volantis, but Aemon refused; Aemond stormed out and brushed past Jaehaerys.
• Aemon confirmed Volantis had rebelled, and Jaehaerys, Baela, and Rhea volunteered to go.
• Aemon assigned the three siblings to the mission, told them to follow Jaehaerys’s lead, and directed them to seek help from Laenor if they encountered trouble.

Rhaenyra authorized Aemond to gather troops against Borros’s rebellion while she waited for more information, and Aemon returned to Dragonstone with Viserys and a fresh dragon egg. Aemon revealed that he had deliberately provoked Borros and considered using the rebellion to remove House Baratheon’s influence, while Viserys remained unaware of his plans.

• Aemond proposed taking Bronze Gate and encircling Storm’s End, and Rhaenyra assigned him eighteen hundred soldiers to camp near the King’s Wood while she consulted Corlys privately.
• Aemon returned to Dragonstone with Viserys, who carried a silver dragon egg that Aemon had persuaded him to keep and try to hatch.
• Viserys learned that a pale gray-white Wild Dragon in the Vale had laid the egg, contrary to Archmaester Gladius’s guess.
• Aemon told Viserys that Borros had rebelled after his marriage proposal was rejected and Aemon beat him, and said he had already advised Rhaenyra to consult Corlys and Aemond.
• While walking with Viserys, Aemon revealed to himself that he had provoked Borros and hoped to use the rebellion to replace House Baratheon and possibly crush other troublesome houses.

Viserys’s dragon egg hatched into a silver hatchling he named Starlight, while Aemon surveyed Dragonmont’s Fire Magic Power and decided to create a fourth volcano before the coming Great Winter. A huge scarlet-and-black dragon then appeared above Viserys and Starlight.

• Viserys climbed Dragonmont with a silver dragon egg, which hatched in his arms into a silver hatchling with golden vertical pupils.
• Aemon searched Dragonmont for Silverwing, examined the Fire Magic Power in the volcano, and found that its growth had stalled.
• Aemon resolved to carve out a fourth volcano to help protect his family and dragons during the Great Winter.
• Viserys named the hungry hatchling Starlight and struggled to quiet its cries.
• A deafening dragon roar shook the mountain, and Viserys saw a huge scarlet-winged, black-scaled dragon looming overhead.

Viserys bonded with Blackfyre on Dragonstone and flew to Driftmark with Aemon’s family. At High Tide Castle, Aemon gave the young dragon Starlight to his son Mecha, while news came that Xiao Jie and his siblings were returning with Rhaenys.

• Viserys recognized Blackfyre as a dragon resembling Balerion, and Blackfyre accepted his touch, sparking a bond between them.
• Two days later, Viserys rode Blackfyre to Driftmark with Aemon, their grandsons, and Starlight, while Aemon reflected on how much Viserys had changed.
• At High Tide Castle, Aemon learned that Xiao Jie and his siblings were returning with Aunt Rhaenys.
• Mecha asked Aemon for a gift, and Aemon introduced him to Starlight, encouraging him to earn the young dragon’s approval.
• Mecha happily took Starlight, and Corlys greeted Viserys and Aemon at High Tide Castle.

Viserys and Aemon settled family inheritance arrangements on Driftmark after Jaehaerys, Baela, and Rhea returned from suppressing the Volantene rebellion with valuable discoveries. In King's Landing, Cregan Stark met Viserys and asked for royal aid to help the North endure the coming winter.

• Viserys arrived at Driftmark on Blackfyre, and Corlys watched the dragon with unease.
• Jaehaerys presented Aemon with Valyrian Steel armor, while Baela and Rhea returned with petrified dragon eggs and reported that the rebellion in Volantis had been defeated.
• Aemon and the Velaryons agreed that Mecha would become Driftmark's heir if Laenor remained childless, while Laena was formally established as heir and Laenor was designated Tyrosh's heir.
• Aemon planned to name Baela his heir to River Valley Town and the Vale, while reserving other territories for his eldest son after he inherited the Iron Throne.
• Cregan Stark arrived in King's Landing with Rodrik Dustin and Earl Desmond Manderly, then met Viserys in the Throne Hall.
• Cregan asked Viserys for a loan from the royal treasury, preferably in grain, to help the North survive the coming winter.

Aemon and the royal family prepared aid for the North and welcomed Rhaenys back to King's Landing, where she met the family’s many children. The joyful banquet was interrupted by unusual bells and the arrival of a familiar scarlet dragon above the Red Keep.

• Aemon said the Iron Throne would lend the North enough grain for three winters, and the family discussed the North’s poverty and the coming Great Winter.
• Rhaenys returned to King's Landing, where Aegon introduced her to Samantha and she reunited with Helena.
• Viserys introduced Rhaenys to the eight young children of Aemon and Aegon, including the dragonriders Lucerys, Mecca, Baelon, and Jaehenira.
• As the family began feasting, a thunderous roar and unusual bells sounded, and Aemon saw a familiar scarlet dragon flying over the Red Keep.

Daemon returned to King's Landing with his sons and joined the royal family at a tense feast, while Aemond's army remained blocked in the King's Wood during Borros Baratheon's rebellion. At Harrenhal, Aemon prepared to excavate a volcano on Thousand Faces Isle.

• Daemon arrived in King's Landing with Little Aegon and Viseryon, and his pointed exchanges with Viserys continued through the feast.
• Cregan returned to his quarters shaken by the royal family's complicated relationships.
• Aemond learned that Vulture's Roost and Stonehelm had refused his summons and that Count Buckler's forces still blocked the road to Bronze Gate.
• Adam and Alyn urged Aemond to write to Rhaenyra for guidance because the royal army's advance had stalled.
• Aemon chose Thousand Faces Isle at Harrenhal as the site for a volcano and summoned the Flame Hammer to begin excavating.