Chapter Summaries

Daeren investigated the Stepstones while unrest spread through Tyrosh, where rumors about abolishing slavery fueled attacks on the Iron Throne’s forces. After the riots were suppressed, Kevon and the other lords recognized the danger and postponed the abolition plan as they awaited Daeren’s return.

• Daeren refused to question Tyrosh’s arrested governors until Lord Lusris returned, then left to inspect the Stepstones and find a site for a town.
• Daeren discovered that Bloodstone Island’s soil was becoming cultivable, stored Rhaegal’s revitalized Dragon Egg, and learned from Jaeherys that the Stepstones’ gem production had sharply declined.
• Tyrion patrolled Tyrosh with Sandor and Lannister soldiers, noticed hostility and rumors about the Iron Throne abolishing slavery, and was surrounded by hostile slaves after a masked attacker wounded one of his guards.
• Masked assailants and mobs attacked forces throughout Tyrosh, but Stannis and the Dragon Tongue Knights suppressed several riots and rescued Tyrion’s group.
• Kevon sent a message asking Daeren to return, while the lords blamed the unrest on those resisting slavery’s abolition and shelved the plan after learning that Ser Stevron had also been attacked.

Daeren used Tyrion’s success in Tyrosh to provoke Tywin and arrange for Tywin to govern the city-state with an iron fist. Tywin agreed to go, while Lord Colton was named temporary Hand of the King.

• At the meeting on Tyrosh, Daeron rejected easy answers about slavery, and Tyrion volunteered to deal with the governors by killing some of them.
• Tyrion executed three governors each day, traced attacks on Iron Throne soldiers to a Tyroshi noble, and helped turn the remaining governors against the reactionary forces.
• Daeren blamed the slaveholders’ conspiracy for suspending abolition, promised negotiations, and sent Tyrion to build a trading town in the Stepstones instead of continuing to govern Tyrosh.
• Daeren told Tywin that Tyrion deserved to be First Archon of Tyrosh and an heir to Casterly Rock, provoking Tywin to reject both proposals.
• Daeren asked Tywin to govern Tyrosh, and Tywin agreed after Daeren assured him he would return as Hand; Lord Colton was appointed temporary Hand.

Daeren welcomed Rhaegar’s children to King’s Landing and reassured them that they would be safe with him, while Aegon fainted from a fever after Daeren encouraged him to embrace his Targaryen identity. In Lys, Rhaegar prepared to negotiate with the governors over rumors of the Smoking Sea and the terms they might offer.

• Tywin sailed for Tyrosh as a Dornish ship carrying Rhaenys, Visenya, Aegon, and Arianne arrived in King’s Landing.
• Daeren welcomed his nieces and learned that Rhaegar was in Lys, where he had joined the governors’ council and received the title Prince of Lys.
• Daeren reassured Visenya and Aegon that King’s Landing was their home, and told Aegon to remember that he was Targaryen rather than Stark.
• Aegon fainted from a mild fever, so Daeren sent him to the Red Keep for medicine and milk before taking Rhaenys and Visenya to their aunt’s banquet.
• Arianne hinted that Rhaegar was secretly negotiating with the governors of Lys, while Daeren insisted she address him as Your Majesty.
• In Lys, Rhaegar met with his Mithril Guard and prepared to negotiate with the governors about what terms they would offer and the rumors surrounding the Smoking Sea.

Rhaegar weighed the governors of Lys's terms for pursuing a rumored dragon and Dragon Egg in the Smoking Sea, then decided to go himself. Daeren prepared to monitor the growing search for dragons and Dragon Eggs, while Lady Olenna arrived in King's Landing to visit him.

• Tryg O'Morlen and Valar offered Rhaegar two choices: give up his armed forces while Lys bought the Dragon Egg, or sail himself to find it at great expense.
• Sara Jin warned Rhaegar that he would face danger and might be one of the three heads of the dragon prophecy, but Rhaegar decided to search the Smoking Sea for a dragon and reclaim the Dragon Egg.
• Rhaegar's plans and the dragon rumors spurred Lys, Volantis, Slaver's Bay, and other powers to prepare expeditions into the Smoking Sea.
• Daeren ordered Victarion Greyjoy to take the Iron Fleet south, instructed Varys to watch for dragons and Dragon Eggs, and asked him to find the missing Gillian Lannister.
• Lady Olenna arrived in King's Landing with goods and coin and went to see Daeren on the Iron Throne.

Daeren rebuffed Lady Olenna’s attempt to secure Reach participation and land in the Disputed Lands, while learning that a Dragon Egg may have reached a Qartheen merchant. He was left considering the threat and preparing for Victarion’s arrival in the Summer Sea.

• Lady Olenna argued that the nobles of The Reach resented being excluded from the conquest of Tyrosh and offered their participation in an eastern campaign in exchange for land.
• Daeren recognized that Lady Olenna chiefly wanted territory for House Tyrell and told her he would seek Mace’s help if he needed it.
• Lady Olenna warned Daeren that rumors linked the Smoking Sea to dragons, the Volantenes, and a Dragon Egg held by a Qartheen merchant.
• Daeren said he would personally reclaim or kill any Young Dragon, then suspected the Laughing Lion’s Dragon Eggs had fallen into outside hands and thought of Victarion’s coming arrival.

Daeren investigated the missing Laughing Lion, prepared for future magical training, and traveled to Myr to assess its politics. He secured Tristan’s support for gaining influence over Myr, and Tristan offered him a book as a gift.

• Daeren decided to contact Malacho Maegyr about the Laughing Lion and chose a Weirwood Longbow from the royal treasury before setting out for Myr.
• Myr’s governors argued over Tyrosh’s fall, while Graulon opposed confronting the Iron Throne and Tristan reported activity around the Smoking Sea.
• Daeren met Tristan, learned that Myr’s governors were divided among three factions, and discussed the radicals led by Graulon.
• Daeren offered Tristan assistance to surpass Graulon, and Tristan knelt and pledged to help Daeren take control of Myr.
• Tristan offered Daeren a book as a gift.

Daeren learned that the original Way of the Wind was held in Myr, then acquired Way of the Wind I and awakened a small amount of magic power. Meanwhile, Victarion’s fleet sailed toward the Smoking Sea as Aeron foresaw strange visions, and Tyrion reported leaving the Stepstones project to Davos.

• Daeren considered Myr’s Secret Sail technology and learned that the original Way of the Wind had come from Asshai and was kept by Graulon.
• Victarion sailed toward the Smoking Sea with Aeron, who foresaw calm seas and visions of dragons, shadows, and a tentacled monster before collapsing.
• Daeren learned Way of the Wind I, gained a breeze that increased his movement speed, and crossed the threshold of a Wizard Apprentice.
• Daeren thanked Tristan with Starfruit wine, and Tyrion revealed that he had left Davos in charge of building the first trade town in the Stepstones.
• Daeren threatened to cut off Tyrion’s head if the mission failed, prompting Tyrion to regret not overseeing the work himself.

Daeren gathered intelligence on Volantis, Slaver's Bay, and their potential allies while assigning Tyrion and Tristan to strengthen the Iron Throne’s position in Myr. Meanwhile, House Redwyne sent Prince Rhaegar toward the Smoking Sea, and Gillian remained captive, hearing that his captors valued him for being a Lannister.

• Tristan reported Volantis’s growing ties with Slaver’s Bay, Qohor, and Lys, while Daeren marked Dragonking Orion as a possible threat.
• Daeren learned that Graulon’s printing house produced the Riding Manual and ordered Tristan to find its Volantene partner and obtain the original text.
• Daeren tasked Tyrion with helping Tristan win over Myr’s governors and watching Volantis and Slaver’s Bay ahead of a second eastern campaign.
• Paxter Redwyne watched five House Redwyne ships carrying Prince Rhaegar depart Lys for the Smoking Sea, while Oberyn prepared to sail back to Dorne.
• Gillian, bound inside a carriage, heard his captors discuss searching the Smoking Sea and learned that they considered him valuable because he was a Lannister.

Daeren learned that House Tyrell was secretly funding Rhaegar, but chose to wait before acting while he considered successors for the Hand. In Tyrosh, Tywin received the completed survey of the Disputed Lands, clearing the way to report to the King and grant rewards and fiefs.

• Daeren considered training Jaeherys and Tyrion to serve as future Hands while planning expansion into Essos.
• Varys told Daeren that Rhaegar had sailed with the Redwyne fleet and that House Tyrell was suspected of funding him; Daeren ordered him to leave Lady Olenna alone for now.
• Lady Olenna discussed House Tyrell's covert actions with Mace and urged him to focus on the King and the possibility of a royal marriage for their family.
• Tywin brooded over Tyrion's abilities and his determination not to let him inherit Casterly Rock.
• Tygett and Ser Stevron told Tywin that the survey of the Disputed Lands was complete and that the King could be informed before rewards and fiefs were granted.

Tywin questioned Stevron about Tyrosh’s new territory, pressured Tygett to reform in exchange for a chance at enfeoffment, and continued ruling Tyrosh through harsh punishments. On Ginger Island, Daeren harvested Ancient Fruit and discovered a Prismatic Shard on Bloodstone Island, whose energy stirred something within him.

• Stevron reported that Tyrosh’s Disputed Lands were vast and fertile and held nearly 170,000 slaves, and Tywin promised to report his service and discuss rewards.
• Tywin rebuked Tygett for continuing to visit brothels and warned that Stafford would receive the new territory’s enfeoffment if Tygett failed to change.
• Stafford reported that rebellious Tyroshi nobles had been punished, and Tywin ordered ringleaders hanged, followers sent to labor camps, and 5,000 camp workers transferred to the Stepstones.
• Daeren harvested Ginger Island’s Ancient Fruit and considered processing the surplus into dried fruit and jam as demand for high-quality crops grew.
• Jaeherys led Daeren to a newly discovered blue-purple ore on Bloodstone Island, and Daeren broke it open to find iridium ore, an Amethyst, and a Prismatic Shard.
• Daeren felt a mysterious current from the Prismatic Shard stir the Life Sprout in his chest and the fiery energy in his blood.

Daeren learned that the Iron Fleet was trapped by the fleets of Slaver's Bay and promised to send aid, then summoned the lords of the Seven Kingdoms to prepare for war. As northern houses prepared to answer the summons, Daeren and Jaeherys arrived on Dragonstone to find Viserys.

• Daeren treated Aeron after the Royal Fleet rescued him, and Aeron explained that Victarion had sent him to request help against Astapor, Yunkai, and New Ghis.
• Daeren promised to aid the Iron Fleet and ordered the designated lords of the Seven Kingdoms to assemble at King's Landing for war against Essos.
• Eddard Stark decided to answer the summons and gather three thousand men despite Catelyn's objections.
• Roose Bolton and Domeric Bolton agreed that House Bolton should attend, while Bronze Yohn mobilized House Corbray and Stevron warned Walder Frey to prepare.
• Daeren and Jaeherys went to Dragonstone, where Diana Borgiali greeted them and the Dragon Guard brought in Viserys.

Daeren and Jaeherys left for Slaver's Bay, pressuring Viserys to train and protect the family while they were gone. On Cedar Isle, Victarion Greyjoy and his Ironborn faced a fleet from Slaver's Bay, and the fighting began with Victarion firing the Kraken Specialist.

• Jaeherys confronted Viserys about neglecting his training, warned him that the family would be vulnerable during the expedition, and gave him the special book Copper Wall Iron Wall.
• Daeren told Viserys to train and take responsibility for the family, then rode toward Slaver's Bay with Jaeherys and their dragons.
• A mysterious dragon appeared in the clouds near the East Coast, and later reports claimed two dragons had fought there before disappearing.
• Victarion warned Rodrik to show respect to Daeren and heard Moqorro predict that he would survive, though the priest offered no certainty about the Ironborn or his nephews.
• Maron spotted a fleet from Slaver's Bay near Cedar Isle, and Victarion led the Ironborn out to meet it.
• Victarion fired the Kraken Specialist at the enemy fleet, missed its flagship, and sank a longship.

Daeren and Jaeherys circled the Smoking Sea and spotted Volantene ships entering it, while Victarion’s Iron Fleet fought the Iron Legion near Cedar Isle. As Victarion faced heavy losses and Maron was struck down, a bronze dragon arrived and unleashed dragonflame on the Iron Legion, prompting Victarion to hail the King.

• Daeren and Jaeherys flew toward Cedar Isle, avoided the Smoking Sea, and saw several ships disappear into its gray haze.
• Victarion rammed the Iron Legion flagship, led the Ironborn in a raid, and killed the Iron Legion admiral.
• The Iron Legion’s deputy general counterattacked with catapults, and a rolling stone struck Maron as Victarion’s fleet struggled to retreat.
• Victarion rescued Maron under fire while Rodrik offered to cover the Iron Fleet’s retreat.
• Daeren’s bronze dragon swept over the battle and burned an approaching Iron Legion ship with dragonflame.
• Victarion recognized the silver-haired rider and declared that the King had arrived.

Jaeherys and Daeren turned the battle against the Iron Legion with their dragons, destroying its fleet before Daeren met with the Ironborn on Cedar Isle. Victarion revealed that a Qarth merchant ship may be carrying the Dragon Egg, and Moqorro claimed to see its location in the flames.

• Jaeherys used Valhar to burn the Yunkai slave archers and help the Iron Fleet drive the Iron Legion fleet into retreat.
• Daeren arrived on Corax and, with Jaeherys and Toothless, destroyed the Iron Legion fleet.
• On Cedar Isle, Victarion told Daeren that a Qarth merchant fleet had split up and that one ship returning alone was suspected of carrying the Dragon Egg.
• Moqorro introduced himself as a High Priest of R'hllor and said he had come after seeing Daeren in the flames.
• Moqorro revealed that a mud-colored Dragon Egg was hidden inside porcelain aboard a great ship nearing the Straits of Qarth.

Daeren and Jaeherys traveled toward Qarth to find a Dragon Egg after Moqorro prophesied Greyscale and dreamed that the Smoking Sea would explode within a month. At the Jade Sea, Daeren spotted a gray mist that he suspected was the source of Greyscale and decided to bar eastern merchant ships from the Stepstones.

• Moqorro prophesied Greyscale and dreamed that the Smoking Sea would erupt in an explosion within a month, prompting Victarion to plan the Iron Fleet’s withdrawal to Volantis.
• Daeren agreed to search for the Dragon Egg with Jaeherys and told Victarion to lead the Iron Fleet to Volantis if he did not return within half a month.
• In Astapor, Grazdan refused to compensate Alf for New Ghis’s losses after the failed attempt to drive out the ironmen.
• Daeren and Jaeherys reached Qarth, flew past the Jade Gate, and saw the Jade Sea.
• Daeren spotted pale gray mist over the Jade Sea, suspected it carried Greyscale, and decided to ban merchant ships from east of Qarth from entering the Stepstones.

Daeron and Jaehaerys arrived at Qarth to reclaim a Dragon Egg, and Jaehaerys demanded that the royal family meet them. The Qartheen representatives faced Daeron and his massive Red Dragon, Corax, as the confrontation began.

• Daeren used whistles to direct Jaeherys away from the Jade Gate and toward Qarth.
• Jaeherys landed Valhar at Qarth Port, burned a guard tower, and demanded that the royal family come greet the King of the Iron Throne.
• Mathos Malarovan and the Qartheen royals suspected House Targaryen had come for the Dragon Egg rumored to be in Qarth, then sent representatives to the port.
• Valaride Singerson of the Tourmaline Brotherhood privately offered Jaehaerys help, then slipped away by boat.
• Mathos questioned Jaehaerys about his elder brother, and Daeron arrived aboard Corax, whose size terrified the Qartheen delegation.
• Daeron introduced himself as Daeron III of House Targaryen and the man the Qartheen had come to see.

Daeron demanded that Qarth return the stolen Dragon Egg and gave its royals two days to find it. While Daeron met with Qarth’s rulers, Viserys decided to stop idling at Dragonstone and rushed out to prove he was not a coward.

• Mathos of House Malawen welcomed Daeron to Qarth, and Daeron warned that the city had two days to locate the Dragon Egg.
• Daeron left Jaeherys guarding the harbor ships and entered Qarth with Mathos while Corax and another dragon remained overhead.
• Mathos arranged for Daeron to bathe and change before meeting Qarth’s royal families at the Hall of a Thousand Thrones.
• At Dragonstone, Viserys reflected that his brothers were suffering abroad and resolved not to seem cowardly.
• Viserys struck himself with Copper Wall Iron Wall, absorbed its strengthening power, grabbed his sword, and ran out of Stone Drum Tower.

The Qarth royal family rejected a plot to poison Daeren and decided to demand the stolen Dragon Egg from The Thirteen and the warlocks, while Daeren offered them information about Greyscale. After Xaro was exposed as the buyer, Daeren found the Dragon Egg hidden in Xaro’s mansion, where a warlock confronted him.

• The Qarth royals debated killing Daeren and Jaeherys but rejected the plan, then agreed to demand the Dragon Egg from The Thirteen and the Ancient Guild of Spicers.
• Daeren told Mathos that Greyscale was spreading from the Jade Sea and could threaten Qarth.
• Mathos accused The Thirteen of privately buying the Dragon Egg and ordered them to surrender it, prompting Pyat Pree to vanish and Xaro to be captured.
• Xaro confessed that he had bought the Dragon Egg at the warlocks’ urging, and Mathos sent men to search the House of the Undying.
• Daeren entered Xaro’s mansion, found the Dragon Egg concealed inside an antique vase, and turned to face a warlock who appeared in the bedroom doorway.

Daeren recovered the Dragon Egg from Xaro's Mansion and killed Pyat Pree, then helped Jaeherys and Mathos destroy the House of the Undying and punish Xaro's co-conspirators. The warlocks, Xaro, and the corrupt magnates were burned, leaving Qarth's coup plotters dead.

• Daeren killed Pyat Pree with Dark Sister, retrieved the Dragon Egg from the antique vase, and used an explosive pellet to destroy the warlock's supposedly dead body.
• Daeren rode Corax to the House of the Undying, where Mathos and The Thirteen led forces against the warlocks, and Jaeherys burned them with Valhar.
• Daeren warned Jaeherys not to let prophecies define his future, and Jaeherys resolved to put being a Dragon Rider first.
• Daeren, Jaeherys, and their dragons burned the House of the Undying until it collapsed into ruins.
• Jaeherys's forces exposed the magnates who had financed Xaro's plot, and Daeren ordered Corax to burn them and Xaro alive.

Daeren secured Qarth’s cooperation against Greyscale and learned that a Great Master of Meereen had sold the recovered Dragon Egg. Back at Dragonstone, Viserys finally got the young dragon Alex to carry him into the sky, while Daeren returned to Slaver’s Bay and spotted a New Ghis fleet he could use to demonstrate his power.

• Daeren advised Mathos and Qarth’s representatives to seal the Jade Gate, inspect ships, and disinfect the city against Greyscale.
• Mathos offered Daeren ships and valuable goods, and told him that a Great Master of Meereen had sold the Dragon Egg to Xaro.
• Daeren and Jaeherys flew back toward Slaver’s Bay while wondering whether Viserys had made any progress.
• Viserys stood up to the young dragon, called it Alex, and climbed onto its back.
• Alex flew Viserys over the sea, carrying him away from Dragonstone.
• Daeren returned to Cedar Isle and recognized New Ghis banners among the ships fighting nearby.