Chapter Summaries

Daeren returned from Dorne with House Yronwood’s support and ordered the Dragon Tongue Knights to crush Baron Caswell’s rebellion. As Stannis led the knights into Bitterbridge, they shot the fleeing Ormund Caswell and charged his panicked forces.

• Daeren told the council he had strengthened ties in Dorne and ordered Baron Caswell killed, rejecting Mace’s call to investigate further.
• Daeren sent the Dragon Tongue Knights to Bitterbridge instead of Tywin’s Lionheart Knights.
• Tywin confronted Lady Olenna about House Tyrell’s role in the rebellion, but she denied responsibility and warned him against false accusations.
• Sweeper overheard Tywin and Olenna’s exchange and slipped away to report it to the Master of Whisperers.
• At Bitterbridge, Ormund Caswell worried that his fellow conspirators had vanished and that his retainer had betrayed him.
• Stannis led the Dragon Tongue Knights across the bridge, shot the fleeing Ormund, and charged into the panicked Bitterbridge army.

Stannis and the Dragon Tongue Knights destroyed House Caswell, prompting Daeren to publicize the victory and prepare to deal with the other Reach rebels. As Randyll Tarly marched on Star Shuttle City, Count Peake panicked and decided to seek leniency from the Iron Throne.

• Stannis led the Dragon Tongue Knights in defeating Baron Ormund Caswell’s forces and killing every member of House Caswell.
• Tywin learned of the three hundred Dragon Tongue Knights and considered how House Targaryen’s military strength could benefit House Lannister.
• Daeren ordered Davos to spread news of Bitterbridge’s fall and tasked Randyll Tarly with marching on Star Shuttle City.
• Lady Olenna regretted the destruction of House Caswell and told Willas Tyrell she would ask Daeren to let the remaining lords negotiate.
• Count Peake learned that Randyll Tarly was marching on Star Shuttle City, mustered his army, and prepared to confess to the Iron Throne.

As Stannis’s forces subdued rebellious Reach houses, Daeren avoided Lady Olenna’s request for an audience while Petyr Baelish served as his gatekeeper. In the Dragonpit, Ser Arthur broke through to high-ranking knight and demonstrated his new combat skill, leaving Daeren to identify the sprout of Arthur’s Life Seed as Dragonfire Pepper.

• Lady Olenna could not find Daeren, while Willas advised her that House Tyrell should avoid interfering in the rebellion and let the lords surrender.
• Raymond Merryweather and Garlan Fossoway joined Stannis’s forces, which surrounded Cider Hall, and Garlan offered to persuade his cousin Lord Dallick to surrender.
• Stannis promised to spare Lord Dallick for the time being, and Dallick opened Cider Hall’s gates; Green Valley City surrendered soon afterward.
• Daeren assigned Tywin to receive and interrogate the lords of the three rebel houses once Star Shuttle City was taken, while Petyr Baelish turned Lady Olenna away from an audience.
• Ser Arthur used three Ancient Fruits to break through to high-ranking knight, severed an iron chain with his new skill Heavy Slash, and showed Daeren his sprouted Life Seed, which Daeren recognized as Dragonfire Pepper.

Daeren used the suppression of the Reach rebellion to punish House Peake, expand the new Crownlands, and weaken House Tyrell’s control over the Reach. He appointed Mathis Rowan as the planned Admiral of the Roseroad, leaving Mace Tyrell shocked and powerless.

• Daeren decided to use Sweet Gem Berry for his next Life Seed after Ser Arthur condensed a Dragonfire Pepper seed.
• Randyll Tarly besieged Star Shuttle City despite Tutis Peake’s surrender offer, and the defenders later captured Peake and opened the gates.
• Daeren agreed to execute the chief rebels and reduce the lands of Houses Fossoway and Mett, while House Peake faced severe punishment.
• Daeren announced that Bitterbridge would join the new Crownlands, and the council accepted his decision.
• Daeren proposed an Admiral of the Roseroad based at Bitterbridge and named Mathis Rowan for the post, causing Mace Tyrell to collapse.

After fleeing King's Landing, Lady Olenna witnessed the destruction of House Caswell and realized how little leverage House Tyrell had against the Royal Family. Daeren sentenced the Reach rebels, executed Lord Peake, and appointed Mathos Admiral of the Roseroad with orders to eliminate House Peake's remnants.

• Lady Olenna left King's Landing with her family and saw House Caswell's corpses hanging at Bitterbridge, while Willas recognized the Royal Family's power.
• Randyll took Star Shuttle City, ordered House Peake's members imprisoned, and replaced their banner with the royal dragon banner.
• Daeren summoned Mathos and went to the Throne Room, where Tywin presented the tortured Fossoway and Mett for judgment.
• Daeren sent Fossoway and Mett away to face the choice of the Wall or execution, then killed Lord Peake with Dark Sister.
• Daeren appointed Mathos Admiral of the Roseroad and ordered him to eliminate House Peake's remaining members and erase its name.

After the Small Council urged Daeren to secure the succession with a betrothal, he chose Shayani and Tywin arranged the ceremony for late April or early May. Cersei, who had expected Tywin to create an opportunity for her, learned Daeren was getting engaged and went to confront her father.

• Daeren and Tywin raised the subjects of coronation and betrothal at the Small Council, and Tywin argued that Daeren should settle a marriage pact to secure the realm.
• The ministers proposed Shayani, Cersei, Jeyne, and Lysa as candidates, while Daeren firmly chose Shayani.
• Tywin approved Daeren's choice and assigned Count Colton and Lord Owen to prepare a betrothal ceremony within a month and a half.
• After the meeting, Daeren suspected Tywin's motives and went looking for Varys before deciding to visit Aerys.
• Cersei kissed Daeren, but he pushed her away and told her he was getting engaged.
• Cersei tore flowers from her dress and headed to the Tower of the Hand to demand an explanation from Tywin.

Daeren weighed whether to marry Cersei, deciding not to upset the balance with Tywin for a match he did not especially want. Meanwhile, Rhaegar captured Bloodstone Island and pursued alliances and resources that could strengthen his campaign in the Stepstones, including a possible Dragon Egg.

• Daeren considered Cersei's advantages and concluded that marrying her would risk Tywin's growing influence without offering enough benefit.
• Rhaegar fought through the pirates on Bloodstone Island, defeated their forces, and claimed the island for House Targaryen.
• Rhaegar reflected on how Fredo Rojar had supported him and lent him the Valyrian Steel sword Truth.
• Rhaegar told his allies to contact Mith Toyne of the Golden Company and arrange a meeting, while keeping his interest in the Golden Company's hidden island to himself.
• An envoy from Lys offered slaves and materials in exchange for Rhaegar remaining a regional ally, but Rhaegar declined the terms and promised future trade instead.
• The envoy said Governor Valar would seek a Dragon Egg for Rhaegar, who welcomed the prospect of finding a dragon.

Cersei demanded Tyrion’s advice on marrying Daeren, while Daeren tried to reconnect with Aerys and pushed the Small Council to arrange his coronation. The chapter ended with the Citadel predicting that Westeros would soon enter a Long Summer.

• Cersei dragged Tyrion to her bedroom and forced him to advise her on marrying Daeren, but Tyrion said she could not overcome Shayani and urged her to give up.
• Daeren visited the imprisoned Aerys, cared for him, and left him with Viserion’s Dragon Egg after Aerys refused to reconnect with him.
• Daeren and Tywin disputed when Daeren should be crowned, then agreed to hold his coronation and engagement ceremony on the same day.
• Maester Harvey brought a letter from the Citadel, and Scholar Aemon announced that Westeros was expected to enter a Long Summer within the coming years.

Daeren learned that a Long Summer had arrived years earlier than expected and directed the Small Council to prepare for a prolonged summer and the long winter that would follow. After Melisandre confirmed the rise of the Magic Tide, Daeren enlisted Varys to help find Dragon Eggs and confronted him about his Blackfyre identity, leaving their relationship more candid but unresolved.

• Daeren recalled that the Long Summer could last many years and warned the Small Council that the Others might emerge after it ended.
• Tywin, Daeren, and the Small Council agreed to stockpile grain, medicine, furs, and other supplies and to build additional warehouses.
• Melisandre predicted that the Long Summer would last a long time and said the Magic Tide had risen to the level of the Dance of the Dragons.
• Daeren asked Varys to watch for Dragon Eggs and revealed that he knew Varys was connected to the Blackfyre line.
• Daeren suggested the Blackfyres might return as an independent noble family, while Varys maintained that the male line was extinct.
• Daeren asked whether Varys himself carried Blackfyre blood, and Varys turned away with a darkened expression.

As King's Landing prepared for Daeren's coronation and the coming Long Summer, ministers advanced construction and political plans while Daeren learned that Shayani would be his betrothed. The chapter ended with Daeren receiving news that Lord Stark and Lord Royce would sail to King's Landing for the coronation.

• Mace worked tirelessly to rebuild Summerhall and construct a vast new royal treasury for storing provisions.
• Daeren visited Shayani and found Cersei trying to ingratiate herself with her; Shayani confirmed that she knew about their upcoming engagement and hoped Clara would soon join her in King's Landing.
• Elia asked Queen Rhaella to choose companions for Shayani, and Rhaella agreed while lamenting Rhaegar's neglect of Elia and Rhaenys.
• Tywin considered how to secure Cersei's place in the royal family and resolved to achieve his aims by any means necessary.
• Petyr showed Daeren that Purple Conch could be raised successfully off the East Coast, offering the Royal Family a potential source of Purple Dye income.
• Ser Arthur told Daeren that Lord Stark and Lord Royce would travel by ship to King's Landing for the coronation.

Daeron Targaryen was crowned Daeron III after Aerys abdicated, and he accepted the Conqueror’s crown from Anders Yronwood before announcing his betrothal to Shayani. Three days later, as Aerys sailed into confinement on Dragonstone, Daeron’s ministers proposed a tourney to celebrate his reign and encourage the realm to prepare for the Long Summer.

• Eddard Stark, Catelyn Tully, and the assembled lords gathered in the Red Keep for Daeron’s coronation as Aerys sat on the Iron Throne.
• Daeron arrived with Shayani on their dragons, and the High Septon began the coronation ceremony after Aerys declared his abdication.
• Anders Yronwood interrupted the ceremony and presented Daeron with Aegon the Conqueror’s Valyrian steel crown, which Daeron chose over the golden crown.
• Daeron crowned himself, received cheers as Daeron the Dragon King, and announced his engagement to Shayani through Scholar Aemon.
• Three days later, Davos took Aerys by ship to Dragonstone, where he would remain under the Dragon Guard’s watch.
• Count Colton told Daeron that nobles were dismissing warnings about the Long Summer and proposed a tourney to celebrate the coronation and spread preparations.

Daeren approved a seven-day tourney, rejected Count Leyton’s proposed marriage alliance between Jaeherys and Lynesse Hightower, and learned that Rhaegar’s forces were fighting Lys and Myr over the Stepstones. After finding repeated marriage proposals for Jaeherys, Daeren saw him leave for the maester’s tower, where Jaeherys decided to ask Aemon for guidance before pursuing his plan to study at the Citadel.

• Daeren approved a seven-day tourney with a champion’s prize of thirty thousand Gold Dragons.
• Count Leyton asked Daeren to marry Jaeherys to Lynesse Hightower and offered increased taxes and a dowry, but Daeren said he would consider it and later discarded the proposal.
• At the tourney, Arthur Dayne unhorsed Eddard Stark, and Varys told Daeren that Rhaegar’s forces had clashed with Lys and Myr over the Stepstones.
• Daeren reviewed petitions, rejected further Hightower marriage proposals, and considered making another Life Seed.
• Jaeherys told Aemon he wanted to go to the Citadel and become a scholar so he could help his family.
• Aemon asked Jaeherys whether he had asked his brother what help he actually needed, and Jaeherys left after thanking him.

Daeren arranged for Jaeherys to train as a retainer in Oldtown rather than join the Citadel or enter a marriage alliance, then used a blessing and a Sweet Gem Berry to rebuild his Life Seed and demonstrate his growing swordsmanship. With Jaeherys departing and the tourney over, Daeren prepared to travel toward Ginger Island and assess the fighting in the Stepstones.

• Daeren discussed the Three Daughters’ likely return to the Stepstones and told Varys he planned to interfere secretly in the conflict.
• Jaeherys told Daeren he wanted to learn how to help his family, and Daeren offered to find him a place to go.
• Daeren persuaded Count Leyton to take Jaeherys as a retainer in Oldtown until he was ready to be knighted, with Ser Jon accompanying him as sworn shield and swordsmanship instructor.
• Jaeherys departed with the Hightower convoy while Tywin watched and remarked on the Royal Family’s dealings with the Reach.
• Daeren received an Energy Blessing, ate a gold-star Sweet Gem Berry, and dispersed and re-formed his Life Seed.
• Daeren cut down a farm pine tree with Dark Sister and planned to visit Ginger Island and inspect the Stepstones fighting.

Daeren learned that Volantis had sent a huge fleet to seize the Stepstones, while he considered how to use the ensuing chaos to pursue his own plans. The Volantenes captured Grey Gallows Island and then advanced toward Bloodstone Island, leaving Lys scrambling to respond.

• Varys and the council ministers warned Daeren that Volantis threatened the weakened Stepstones, and Tywin argued that the Three Daughters should confront the invasion while the Iron Throne avoided sending troops.
• Daeren told Tywin he wanted to disrupt the Stepstones and considered striking the Golden Company, but Tywin refused to join an attack without suitable rewards.
• Cersei threatened Tyrion into helping her learn what Daeren liked, then tried to approach Daeren with a dessert; Daeren politely refused and hurried away.
• The Volantene fleet broke through the Three Daughters' defenses, bombarded Grey Gallows Island, routed its Lys and Myr garrison, and planted the Tiger Head Banner.
• Tryg Omog, Natasha, and Governor Valar discussed the loss of Grey Gallows Island and Lys's need to prepare for war, while Valar proposed expanding the Council of Governors.
• Fredo Rojar reported that the Volantenes were advancing toward Bloodstone Island.

Daeren found the Golden Company fleeing the Volantene fleet near Ginger Island and watched the two forces clash at sea. As the Golden Company began to retreat, Daeren sent Corax after it, and dragonflame descended on Mith Toyne’s ship.

• Tyrion reported the Royal Fleet’s ships, soldiers, and supplies ready on Tarth Island while Count Lys assigned him to oversee logistics.
• Daeren rode Corax to Ginger Island, planning to claim it and destroy the Golden Company.
• Mith Toyne led the Golden Company’s ships away from the advancing Volantene fleet, but Malacho Maegyr’s forces caught up and attacked them.
• Black Bach and the Peake brothers counterattacked, but Malacho ordered his catapults to fire into the melee, killing Torman Peake and setting ships ablaze.
• Mith Toyne ordered a retreat after the supply ships escaped, and Daeren sent Corax after the Golden Company.
• Corax caught up with Mith Toyne’s ship and unleashed dragonflame as Mith Toyne looked up.

Daeren used Corax to rout the Golden Company at sea, then planned to establish a Targaryen foothold on Ginger Island amid the widening Stepstones conflict. In King's Landing, Tywin questioned Kevon about family and political affairs while considering Daeren’s ambitions and hoping to secure dragon blood for his descendants.

• Daeren and Corax burned Golden Company ships, while Malacho’s Volantene fleet pursued the fleeing survivors.
• Black Bach’s archers failed to harm Corax, and Bened Beren and Chain ordered a retreat as the dragon’s attack devastated the fleet.
• Daeren surveyed the Golden Company’s position on Ginger Island and planned to send the Royal Fleet to occupy it and nearby islands.
• Tywin learned that Tyrion had left with the Royal Fleet, ordered Tygett to marry, and heard that Gillian had recruited sailors in Volantis for an expedition to the Smoking Sea.
• Tywin questioned Kevon about the Stepstones, Lyanna Stark, and her child, then considered Daeren’s military ambitions and his hope for a grandson with Targaryen blood.

The Golden Company regrouped after Daeren’s attack, while Lys prepared to reclaim the Stepstones from Volantis. As the Three Daughters and Volantis fought at sea, the Golden Company joined the battle with Lys-funded Scorpion Crossbows, and Daeren arrived on Corax to strike.

• Mith Toyne survived with severe dragonflame burns, and the Golden Company’s officers vowed not to abandon the profitable island they had discovered.
• Lys’s governors agreed to seek help from Myr and Tyrosh and go to war against Volantis after learning of Daeren’s involvement in the Stepstones.
• Daeren learned that the Three Daughters had hired the Golden Company and prepared to intervene after the rival powers weakened each other.
• The Three Daughters and Volantis clashed at sea, and the Golden Company’s Scorpion Crossbows destroyed Volantene ships and shifted the battle’s momentum.
• Malacho struggled to respond as the fighting became a stalemate, then Daeren appeared above the battlefield on Corax and ordered the dragon to use dragonfire.

Daeren and Corax routed the Golden Company and the Three Daughters, then turned on the Volantene fleet after Malacho’s scouts watched them. When Daeren cornered Malacho, the Archon offered to steal him a Dragon Egg in exchange for his life.

• Daeren and Corax destroyed the Golden Company’s Scorpion Crossbows while the Volantenes fought the forces of the Three Daughters, and the Royal Fleet arrived to help rout the enemy.
• Count Lys presented five captured Golden Company officers, including Black Bach, to Daeren, who questioned Black Bach about firing a Scorpion Crossbow at him.
• After Ser Arthur reported that Volantene scouts were watching the fleet, Daeren attacked Malacho’s ships with Corax and led the Royal Fleet and surrendered Golden Company soldiers into battle.
• Daeren flew to Malacho’s position on Grey Gallows Island, where Corax killed the Archon’s adjutant and burned Tiger Party soldiers.
• Malacho offered to steal Daeren a Dragon Egg hidden by a Black Wall noble family if Daeren spared his life.

Daeren captured the Volantene Archon Malacho and persuaded him to join an attack on the Three Daughters, while Rhaegar struggled to hold Bloodstone Island and sought House Martell’s support. Daeren and the Golden Company then attacked Lys with the Volantene fleet, and Corax began burning the city as its governors watched in alarm.

• Daeren spared Malacho, captured him, and persuaded him to lead Volantis into an alliance against the Three Daughters in exchange for a share of the Stepstones.
• Rhaegar and Oberyn discussed the threat to Bloodstone Island, and Oberyn left to ask Prince Doran to send troops.
• Rhaegar learned that Fredo Rojar had been elected a Governor of Lys and prepared to take advantage of the coming conflict between Lys and Volantis.
• Black Bach led half of the Golden Company in a surprise assault on Lys as Daeren and a Volantene fleet attacked its ships.
• Daeren rode Corax over Lys, burned a tower housing a Scorpion Crossbow, and triggered a citywide alarm as its governors realized a dragon had arrived.

Daeren helped Volantis attack Lys and the Disputed Lands, then received a living brown Dragon Egg from Malacho in exchange for supplies and an alliance. Back on Ginger Island, Daeren watched a yellow Dragon Egg hatch into a golden Young Dragon.

• Corax burned Lys's towers and streets while Volantene troops and the Golden Company fought their way into the city.
• Malacho's forces seized the Lysene holdings in the Disputed Lands, captured Governor Natasha, and took control of its harvest and slaves.
• Daeren met Malacho on Grey Gallows Island and arranged for the Royal Fleet to take over supplies while Volantis occupied the Disputed Lands and shared most of its produce with the Iron Throne.
• Malacho gave Daeren a living brown Dragon Egg from House Farrak, and Daeren asked him to search Volantis for other Dragon Eggs.
• Daeren returned to Ginger Island and watched a yellow Dragon Egg hatch into a bright golden Young Dragon with pale pink wing membranes.