Chapter Summaries

Rhaegar took command of the coming war against the Three Daughters and divided the forces between attacks on their cities and defenses across the Narrow Sea. As Helaena and Aegon departed on their assigned mission, Rhaegar received a group of silver-haired and purple-eyed recruits brought by Tormund.

• Corlys, Daemon, Viserys, and the council discussed the war, the Three Daughters' fleet, and their attempt to tame Mogul in Lys.
• Rhaegar won Viserys's approval to command the campaign, assigning Daemon and Corlys separate attacks on the Three Daughters' cities while dragons guarded key locations.
• Rhaegar assigned Aemond and Sheepstealer to protect Storm's End, and Helaena and Dreamfyre to defend Crab Island.
• Rhaegar gave Helaena a Valyrian steel sword forged alongside True Fire and Light of the Kingdom, and she named it Long Summer.
• Helaena and Aegon flew from Dragonstone, and Tormund brought Rhaegar more than a dozen silver-haired, purple-eyed young people.

Rhaegar recruited bastards to try to claim the wild dragon Mogul in Lys while the war against the Three Daughters continued. As Mogul killed another would-be tamer, Johanna Sven asked whether she could contact Dragonstone.

• Rhaegar invited the bastards to tame an unclaimed dragon in Lys, promising rewards and ordering that any dragon brought to Westeros be confined in the Dragonpit.
• The Cannibal helped Rhaegar and Robb repel the Three Daughters' attack on Gray Gallows Island, leaving fewer than five hundred soldiers across the two large islands.
• In Lys, Mogul killed a silver-haired man who approached it with a goat, and Bambarro Bazane ordered another dragon tamer brought in.
• Johanna warned Bambarro that the Velaryon fleet was approaching Lys, but he remained determined to tame Mogul.
• Johanna returned to her carriage and asked a woman there whether she could get in touch with Dragonstone.

Daemon’s fleet attacked the Three Daughters near Lys and Tyrosh, but both Iron Throne fleets were destroyed. Rhaegar then led an overland assault on Myr with Cannibal and several other dragons, melting the city’s wall and sending his army through the breach.

• Daemon directed Caraxes and the fleet in an attack on the Three Daughters’ ships off Lys, where Shalak Lohar’s Scorpion bolts forced Caraxes to retreat as the fleets clashed.
• Banroba learned that Daemon’s fleet had been defeated and ordered Tyrosh to strengthen its sea defenses, while Priest Ross advised him to let Mogul rest before further attempts to tame it.
• The Velaryon fleet attacked Tyrosh’s patrol ships, but Myles Stryllo pursued and sank every ship in the fleet.
• Myr’s remaining governors dismissed Bambarro’s warning and discussed replacing Kuduo Atar while planning to sell his family’s inheritance.
• Rhaegar rode Cannibal to Myr and used Emerald Green Dragonflame to melt the northern wall as his assembled army advanced.
• Rhaegar ordered his forces to attack Myr, and Cannibal led Meleys, Caraxes, Sea Smoke, and Grey Shadow in a dragon assault on the city.

Rhaegar and Cannibal led the assault that burned Myr’s defenses and secured the city, after which Rhaegar executed its governors and ordered the killing of its merchants. As the Targaryen banner rose over Myr, Rhaegar planned to retake the Stepstones, but Daemon stopped him with an unexplained challenge.

• Cannibal and the other dragons destroyed Myr’s towers and defenses while Rhaegar’s forces stormed the city and slaughtered its garrison.
• Rhaegar captured Myr’s Governor’s Mansion, and Grey Worm’s troops joined him after Rhaenys reported that the southern district had been taken.
• The next morning, Rhaegar ordered the execution of Myr’s governors and merchants, and a Targaryen banner was raised over the city.
• Rhaegar learned that Myr had thirty-four warships and ordered the forces to prepare to retake the Stepstones instead of attacking Tyrosh.
• Daemon confronted Rhaegar in the presence of Corlys and Lorde, leaving Rhaegar’s order unanswered.

Rhaegar secured Myr, rewarded the Dothraki, and prepared to continue the war against Lys and Tyrosh. As Johanna fled with her money and Braavos’s Sea Lord waited for a prophecy to unfold, Fergo watched over three dragon eggs beneath a dragon’s bones.

• Rhaegar rejected immediate demands for spoils from Rod, Corlys Velaryon, and Daemon, promising rewards after the war and assigning Rhaenys and Laenor to help govern Myr.
• Rhaegar gave Os. Khale’s Dothraki a gift of valuables, and Os. Khale accepted it before leaving for Pentos.
• Rhaegar left Rhaenys, Grey Worm, the Dreadfort soldiers, and the Knights of the Vale to secure Myr while he and Laenor departed by dragon.
• After hearing Bambarro rage about Myr’s fall, Johanna sent a raven with a letter and ordered her money moved to Valantis.
• Fergo pressed Priestess Lanny for the timing of her prediction, then gazed greedily at three dragon eggs beneath a dragon’s bones in Braavos.

Viserys celebrated Rhaegar’s capture of Myr and reviewed the kingdom’s preparations for the Narrow Sea War. At home, he and Alicent discussed the war’s possible gains and Aegon’s marriage, but reached no decision.

• Viserys ordered Maester Mukun to record Rhaegar’s capture of Myr in the court chronicle.
• Lyonel reported the fleets and supplies gathering to support the war, while Otto raised concerns about resistance in the Stormlands and Ironborn near Lannisport and Seaguard.
• Tormund explained that Swann and Dondarrion were still following Rhaegar’s deployment orders, and Viserys deferred addressing their dispute until after the war.
• Viserys told Alicent he hoped Rhaegar might capture the Three Daughters, and she said the royal family needed more prosperous territory.
• Alicent raised Aegon’s marriage and suggested Lannister, Tyrell, and Hightower matches, but Viserys rejected or hesitated over each proposal.

Rhaegar’s forces defeated the Three Daughters’ fleet at Gray Gallows Island, and he planned fortresses for the Stepstones while assigning Aemond to defend the Stormlands. In Braavos, Fergo demanded that three dragon eggs be hatched through blood sacrifice, and a red-robed sorcerer proposed using three Valyrian children.

• Rhaegar, Criston Cole, Laenor, Aemond, and their dragons turned the battle at Gray Gallows Island against the Three Daughters and destroyed their forces.
• Rhaegar sent Laenor and Cole to take Bloodstone Island, then told Aemond to return to Storm’s End and help guard the Stormlands against Dorne.
• Rhaegar ordered fortresses built on Bloodstone Island and Gray Gallows Island using black dragonglass, and planned to bring workers from Dragonstone.
• Fergo demanded that the sorcerers hatch all three dragon eggs, and the red-robed man said they would need blood sacrifice and three pure-blooded Valyrian children.

Bambarro prepared to receive mercenaries in Lys while Valyrian volunteers awaited the Bloody Sowing, and Rhaegar returned to Dragonstone to comfort the pregnant Rhaenyra after news of an Ironborn raid. In the Vale, Aegon abandoned his patrol route and steered Sunfyre toward Sisterton.

• Bambarro received letters from Braavos and Dorne confirming that two mercenary companies would send troops, then ordered the Dragonpit guards to keep Dragon Species away from the wild dragon until dawn.
• Tristan and Shuf, two Valyrian volunteers waiting in Perfumed Garden, discussed the risks of the Bloody Sowing and their hopes of returning home after riding a dragon.
• Rhaegar oversaw the removal of Dragonstone Mountain’s accumulated dragon dung and entrusted Maester Gladys with the work.
• Rhaenyra told Rhaegar that the Ironborn had attacked Lannister's Port and might have been paid by an outside power, and he reassured her that her pregnancy was an important service to the realm.
• Rhaegar comforted Rhaenyra and rubbed oil on her growing belly, while they remembered their mother’s death in childbirth.
• Aegon grew bored of patrolling for Jeyne and ordered Sunfyre to change course toward Sisterton so he could visit a brothel.

Rhaegar dreamed of a bloody sea battle as Braavosi mercenaries raided the Three Sisters Islands, where Aegon escaped on Sunfyre after the dragon was wounded by crossbow bolts. The chapter ended with Helaena waking in terror and crying, “Fire...”

• During dinner on Dragonstone, Laena explained that Vhagar felt lonely and mourned the loss of dragons and riders she had known.
• Rhaegar fell asleep and dreamed of ships clashing amid fire and blood.
• Braavos's First Sword, Parmen, led mercenaries in a night attack on the Three Sisters Islands after raids on White Harbor.
• Aegon awoke to the attack in a Sisterton brothel, called Sunfyre, and rode the dragon into the night after it burned the town.
• Sellswords fired crossbows at Sunfyre, piercing his wings, but Aegon escaped with the wounded dragon into the clouds.
• Helaena woke at Sweetwater Castle and cried, “Fire...”

Seagull Town came under attack by a Braavosi mercenary fleet while Aegon returned wounded on Sunfyre and Helaena raced to help after foreseeing the danger. Helaena confronted Barthamos over his secret shipments, then flew toward the battle on Dreamfyre as the enemy reached the harbor defenses.

• Jeyne ordered Seagull Town's defenses alerted and sent ravens for help after an unidentified fleet approached Crab Bay.
• Parmen's Braavosi mercenaries attacked the harbor, and the Grafson fleet answered with Scorpion crossbows.
• Aegon arrived at Seagull Town on a badly wounded Sunfyre as the harbor battle raged.
• Helaena warned Barthamos that Seagull Town was under attack, exposed his smuggling, and mounted Dreamfyre after he tried to dismiss her.
• Jeyne left Geralt Royce in charge of defending the harbor, where mercenaries broke through toward the shore.
• Helaena arrived above the harbor on Dreamfyre and called for dragonflame as the mercenaries prepared to land.

Helaena and Aegon struggled to defend Seagull Town from a mercenary fleet until Rhaegar arrived on Cannibal and turned the battle with his green dragonflame. After destroying the attackers at Crab Bay, Rhaegar and Helaena flew to the Three Sisters Islands, where they joined a fleet from White Harbor to crush the returning mercenaries.

• Helaena rode Dreamfyre into battle at Crab Bay, burning a mercenary ship before scorpion bolts forced her to evade into the clouds.
• Aegon tried to rouse the wounded Sunfyre to fight, and Sunfyre finally took flight as the storm intensified.
• Rhaegar arrived on Cannibal and used dragonflame that ignited in the rain to destroy mercenary ships and rout their crews.
• Rhaegar and Helaena burned the remaining mercenaries at Crab Bay, then flew toward the upper Narrow Sea.
• Rhaegar and Helaena attacked the plundering mercenaries at the Three Sisters Islands as a fleet from White Harbor arrived and helped defeat them.

After reprimanding Aegon for abandoning his patrol during the attack on Seagull Town, Rhaegar assigned him to the front and granted him a fortified island domain. As the campaign against Lys and Tyrosh advanced, Rhaegar considered how to reward Tormund, who refused to reclaim his family name and inherit Crab Island.

• Rhaegar returned to Seagull Town, embraced Jeyne, and punched Aegon for leaving his patrol to visit a brothel while Braavosi sellswords attacked.
• Rhaegar ordered Aegon to prepare for the front and left Helaena to defend Seagull Town.
• Rhaenyra received a secret letter from Lys bearing two intertwined roses and smiled after reading it.
• Aegon inspected Blackstone Castle on Bloodstone Island as Laenor explained that the Stepstones could make him wealthy once the Three Daughters were taken.
• Tormund told Rhaegar that Valantis had agreed to send troops and that Daemon had already set out to blockade Tyrosh with allied forces.
• Rhaegar asked Tormund to reclaim his family name and inherit Crab Island, but Tormund declined, so Rhaegar said he would not force him.

Rhaegar’s forces tightened their grip on the Disputed Lands while Beller underwent a blood ritual to tame Mogul in Lys. Mogul emerged with Beller on his back but remained furious and uncontrollable, attacking the Dragonpit before flying into the clouds above the city.

• Laenor and Sea Smoke helped the Three Daughters’ fleet destroy pirate ships in the Disputed Lands.
• Rhaegar reviewed the campaign and ordered his commanders to let wealthy people flee Lys and Tyrosh while pressing the siege.
• Tormund reported that Valantis had agreed to send troops against Lys, while Corlys and Daemon pursued separate plans around Lys and Tyrosh.
• Ross used blood witchcraft to mark Beller and send him toward the weakened, shackled Mogul.
• Mogul emerged from the Dragonpit carrying Beller but ignored his commands, unleashing Dragonflame on mercenaries and Dragon Species.
• Mogul escaped into the clouds above Lys as Beller clung to his back.

Rhaegar prepared the assault on Lys while Daemon flew toward Tyrosh and was ambushed by the wild dragon Mogul, ridden by a red-robed priest. Caraxes attacked Mogul in midair, leaving the dragons locked in a fierce fight.

• Johanna learned that visitors would land that night and considered what information to share with her powerful new ally.
• The Sea Snake and his commanders discussed the campaign as Rhaegar arrived and ordered them to prepare to join Valantis in attacking Lys the next day.
• Daemon received Tyrosh's refusal to surrender and flew out on Caraxes, determined to win land of his own.
• Mogul burst from the clouds and attacked Caraxes, and Daemon recognized the dragon and spotted its red-robed rider.
• Caraxes pursued Mogul through the clouds and clamped onto its neck while Mogul fought back with dragonflame.

Daemon and Rhaenys failed to capture Mogul after the dragon escaped to Tyrosh, prompting Rhaegar to prepare an assault on Lys. As the fleet neared the city, Rhaegar saw Mogul return through his glass candle and unleashed Cannibal against the hostile ships.

• Caraxes fought Mogul until Rhaenys arrived on Meleys, and the dragons drove Mogul toward Tyrosh before losing track of it.
• Rhaegar received news of Mogul's escape and ordered the army to march on Lys, deciding not to send another dragon to reinforce Tyrosh.
• Laena read Daemon's letter about conquering a city-state for their unborn child and worried that he intended to pursue his own ambitions.
• Rhaegar used his glass candle to see Mogul return to Lys as the fleet approached the city.
• Rhaegar ordered Corlys to lead the fleet away, then Cannibal plunged from the clouds and attacked the mercenary ships with dragonflame.

Rhaegar and four other dragonriders destroyed the Three Daughters’ fleet and attacked Lys, where Cannibal faced the wild dragon Mogul. The chapter ended with Cannibal tearing apart Mogul’s wings as both dragons fought over the city.

• Rhaegar led Cannibal, Sea Smoke, Sunfyre, Grey Shadow, and Meleys in burning the Three Daughters’ fleet, while Sharak Lohar died in the attack.
• Laenor and Aegon burned survivors in the water as Rhaegar, Rhaenys, and Corlys advanced toward Lys.
• Bambarro learned that the fleet had been annihilated without causing any losses to the Iron Throne and refused an official’s suggestion to negotiate peace.
• Cannibal destroyed Lys’s Scorpion bolts and towers as the Iron Throne’s fleet began capturing the port.
• Mogul flew out to meet Cannibal despite Beller’s attempt to stop him, and the dragons began fighting above Lys.
• Cannibal bit Mogul’s neck and tore both of his wings while Mogul continued attacking.

Rhaegar killed Mogul and, after being drenched in its blood, transformed his bloodline into Dragonborn. As Cannibal burned Lys and a covert uprising spread through the city, Tristan seized Mogul’s egg and set his sights on becoming a lord.

• Cannibal tore open Mogul’s chest, and Rhaegar was engulfed in the blood of both dragons as Mogul died.
• Rhaegar’s bloodline changed to Dragonborn, his dragon-blood relics strengthened, and a dragon scale appeared on his forehead.
• Rhaegar killed Beller with Dawn, then rode Cannibal to burn a tower still attacking them with Scorpion crossbows.
• Syrio assassinated Bambarro, while rebels marked with black-and-white rose cloth killed guards and seized Lys’s towers.
• Tristan and Shuf discovered Mogul’s corpse and revealed that Shuf had stolen a silver-black Dragon egg from the Dragonpit.
• Tristan knocked Shuf unconscious, took the egg, and decided it would make him a lord.

Rhaegar secured Lys, recruited Johanna to help govern the city, and studied a Blood Mage’s book while Cannibal digested Mogul. As Rhaegar used his fire magic to nourish Mogul’s egg, it hatched into a silver-black young dragon, which he caught before it fell.

• Cannibal dug Mogul’s remains from the rubble while Rhaegar recovered Mogul’s dragon egg and ordered Tristan taken away without mistreatment.
• Rhaegar received a Blood Mage’s Parchment Book from Salladhor and ordered the Sea Snake and Tessario to clear the streets and maintain order in Lys.
• Johanna revealed she had helped Rhaegar twice and offered to manage Lys; he agreed and tasked her with dealing with disobedient nobles and negotiating with Valantis and House Velaryon.
• Rhaegar studied the Parchment Book, finding dragonkeeping knowledge and an incomplete flight spell.
• Rhaegar channeled Fire Magic into Mogul’s egg, which cracked and hatched into a silver-black young dragon.
• The newborn dragon lost its balance, and Rhaegar caught it in his arms.

Rhaegar paraded through Lys with the young dragon Slax, promised the freed slaves they would not be enslaved again, and oversaw the city's submission. At the Governor's Mansion, Varys demonstrated his blood magic and offered to tutor Rhaegar's children and build a Valyrian-style tower.

• Rhaegar rode through Lys as freed slaves begged him to protect them from their former masters, and he vowed that dragons would not tolerate enslavement or oppression.
• Johanna's procession displayed captured Lysene nobles impaled on stakes, and Rhaegar praised her for winning support from officials who submitted to Targaryen rule.
• Johanna suggested using religion to win the commoners' trust, but Rhaegar postponed the decision until after the conquest of Tyrosh.
• Varys introduced himself as an apostate blood mage and asked to become a tutor to Rhaegar's children, but Rhaegar demanded proof of his abilities.
• Varys used blood witchcraft to create a dragonglass dragon figurine and offered to build Rhaegar a Flat-top Tower like those of the ancient Valyrian Dragonlords.

Rhaegar hired Varys to help develop Lys and considered how to govern its freed slaves, then ordered his informants to watch Braavos and Dorne. In Sunspear, Corlys Martell prepared to attack the Stormlands with support from Braavos as Dorne moved toward war.

• Rhaegar agreed to hire Varys, allowing him to operate only in Lys, and discussed building a Flat-top Tower for future political institutions.
• Johanna told Rhaegar she had conscripted former slaves to rebuild Lys, and she considered his proposals for trade, industry, and settling people in Westeros.
• After Varys made an unsettling remark about Rhaegar's unborn child, Rhaegar questioned Syrio, who reported that Rhaenys had left for Myr and that Rhaenys and the child were safe on Dragonstone.
• Rhaegar ordered Syrio and the Shadows to watch Braavos and Dorne.
• Corlys Martell spoke with his daughter Alysandra about the Targaryens and their recent conquests.
• Corlys ordered Earl Olivi to prepare the fleets at Sunspear and Planktown to strike the Stormlands, while Braavos supplied weapons and armor.