Chapter Summaries

Daeren led the Iron Fleet and three dragons to conquer New Ghis after Victarion’s fight with the city-state ended in Maron Greyjoy’s death. By evening, the Inner City and East District had fallen, and Daeren questioned a captured slave master about who had encouraged New Ghis to oppose House Targaryen.

• Daeren and the dragons routed New Ghis’s fleet, and Victarion told Daeren that Maron Greyjoy had died from his wounds.
• Victarion explained that he had raided New Ghis to avenge Maron, and Daeren declared that he intended to go to war with New Ghis.
• New Ghis’s slave masters debated whether to fight the Ironborn, then learned that their fleet had been destroyed and three dragons had arrived.
• Daeren and Corax attacked the Great Pyramid while Victarion led the Ironborn against the port and Jaeherys burned its defenses.
• Daeren took the Great Pyramid and ordered Victarion to let the Ironborn plunder the slave masters and wealthy merchants but leave the commoners and slaves alone.
• Daeren questioned the captured Jose about whether the Black Wall Nobles of Volantis or a Great Master of Meereen had stirred New Ghis against House Targaryen.

Daeren uncovered Hizdahr zo Loraq’s efforts to turn Essos against House Targaryen and prepared for an impending war with the Three Daughters. In Tyrosh, Tywin anticipated an attack, clashed with House Valeryon’s naval commander, and considered using Viserys’s dragon and Tyrion to advance the Royal Family’s marriage plans.

• Daeren used psychological suggestion to make Jose reveal that Hizdahr zo Loraq had funded the Three Daughters, worked with Volantis, and stirred conflict to explore the Smoking Sea.
• Daeren judged that Slaver’s Bay and other Essos powers would oppose House Targaryen, but saw a chance to bring the Three Daughters under the Iron Throne’s influence after their next attack.
• Hizdahr refused to aid New Ghis, feared Daeron III’s growing power, and ordered Sizdala to warn Myr and Lys so they would attack Tyrosh while Daeren was away.
• Tywin criticized Daeren’s campaign in New Ghis and ordered Earl Lucerys to return from his patrol of the Stepstones, while privately using the dispute to weaken House Valeryon.
• Tywin learned that Viserys had tamed the dragon Alex and considered sending Tyrion to King’s Landing to sound out Daeren about taking more wives.

Daeren prepared the Seven Kingdoms and his court for the coming war with Myr while arranging Viserys’s battlefield training and pursuing political alliances. In Dorne, Prince Doran considered marriage plans for his children as Oberyn questioned his priorities.

• Daeren reunited with Shayani, learned that northern and Vale lords were traveling to King's Landing, and heard that Viserys had tamed Alex; he ordered Viserys to train with Little Jay in the Stepstones.
• At the Small Council, Colton reported on the arriving lords, Mace confirmed Tyrell and Hightower support for Tyrosh, and Daeren ordered preparations for war with Myr.
• Varys told Daeren of growing ties between House Tyrell and the Martell Family and rumors of a marriage between Willas Tyrell and Arianne; Daeren ordered him to investigate the Loraq family in Meereen.
• Daeren reflected on Pentos sheltering Bronn and took a Dragon Egg to bring to the Dragonpit.
• In Dorne, Prince Doran discussed alliances and marriage plans with Oberyn, including a possible betrothal between Trystane Martell and Margaery Tyrell; Oberyn suspected Doran still hoped to marry Arianne into the Royal Family.

Tristan told Tyrion that Myr’s council planned to attack Tyrosh, and Tyrion advised him to support the war while waiting for Daeren’s army to intervene. Tyrosh’s defenses came under attack as Myr’s fleet struck the port and riots broke out inside the city, leaving Tywin to lead his men against the unrest.

• Tristan described Graulon’s plan to counterattack Tyrosh, and Tyrion argued that the attack would give the Iron Throne a just cause to conquer Myr.
• Tyrion advised Tristan to support Graulon’s faction, stay away from the front, and secretly contact Myr’s governors while awaiting the Iron Throne’s army.
• Tywin ordered Tyrosh’s streets secured and its port defenses prepared, while Stevron reported that the Royal Fleet and Constabulary Knightly Order were absent.
• Kradalha Andam led the Myr fleet in a dawn assault on Tyrosh’s port, where Kevon commanded the defending Lannister and Frey forces.
• Fires and riots erupted across Tyrosh, and Tywin refused to hide, ordering Tigett and Stafford to join him in suppressing the unrest.

Myr and Lys launched attacks on Tyrosh and the Stepstones, giving Daeren the pretext he wanted to declare an eastern expedition. As armies from the North, the Vale, and The Reach sailed for the Disputed Lands, Randyll Tarly hoped the campaign would restore House Tarly’s glory.

• Tryg led the Lys fleet toward Grey Gallows Island while Myr attacked Tyrosh and Tyroshi pirates moved against Bloodstone Island.
• Varys informed Daeren that Myr and Lys had allied with the Tyroshi pirates, and Daeren ordered the armies of The North, the Vale, and The Reach to muster and march against Lys and Myr.
• Daeren rebuked Count Staunton for criticizing his eagerness for war, then ordered him to join the allied army and face the pirates of the Three Daughters.
• Eddard Stark and Rickard Karstark arrived at King's Landing with northern troops, followed by forces from the Vale, many of whose soldiers suffered seasickness.
• The North and the Vale sailed for the Disputed Lands with the Redwyne Fleet, and Randyll Tarly told Count Paxter Redwyne that he hoped the expedition would restore House Tarly’s glory.

Lady Olenna tested Daeren’s willingness to ally with House Martell and include Dorne in the eastern campaign, while the Royal Fleet fought Lys in the Stepstones. Viserys and Jaeherys arrived on their dragons, and Tryg ordered the Lysene fleet to withdraw.

• Lady Olenna told Daeren that Prince Doran had proposed a marriage between his second son and Margaery Tyrell, then asked him to marry Jeyne, but Daeren refused.
• Lady Olenna asked why Dorne had not been called to join the eastern campaign, and Daeren said Dornish forces could fight if they obeyed orders.
• Earl Lucerys’s Royal Fleet exchanged fire with Tryg’s Lysene fleet near Grey Gallows Island as the battle dragged on.
• Viserys rode Alex into battle and set a Lysene warship ablaze while Jaeherys followed on the Bronze Dragon and warned him to stay close.
• Tryg saw his fleet retreating in panic and ordered a withdrawal after dragonflame scorched the main warship’s sails.

After Lys withdrew from the Stepstones, its governors debated whether to fight or seek terms with the Iron Throne, while Daeren weighed their overtures and prepared to reinforce the campaign at Tyrosh. The chapter left Daeren ready to enter the war as the Redwyne Fleet approached.

• Jaeherys stopped Viserys from chasing the retreating Lysene fleet, and Count Lucerys explained that the Royal Fleet should hold its position rather than risk unnecessary losses.
• Valar rejected an immediate withdrawal, ordered Tryg O'Morren back to confront the Valeryon fleet, and tasked Fredo Rojar with arranging Rhaegar's early investiture as Prince of Lys and probing the Iron Throne.
• Jaeherys asked to be transferred to Tyrosh, and Daeren ordered both Jaeherys and Viserys moved there so they could support the fighting together.
• Daeren judged Lys's message a probe from a divided council, while Varys revealed that Marana Rojar had arrived with gifts and Daeren arranged for her to attend Dowager Rhaella.
• Varys reported that the Redwyne Fleet was nearing Tyrosh, and Daeren said he was ready to join the war.

Daeren and the Redwyne Fleet broke the Myr siege of Tyrosh with the help of three dragons, and Corax seized several Valyrian Steel spearheads from the enemy flagship. Tyrosh was secure for now, but Daeren still had to address threats to the Royal Fleet and the Stepstones.

• Tywin ordered captured rioters and spies sent to repair the port trenches as Myr forces renewed their assault on Tyrosh.
• The Redwyne Fleet arrived behind the Myr fleet, and Daeren, Jaeherys, and Viserys attacked with their dragons, turning the battle in Tyrosh's favor.
• Cladahl tried to shoot down Valhar with a mithril scorpion crossbow fitted with a Valyrian Steel spearhead, but Jaeherys's dragon attack forced him to retreat.
• Corax seized a crate of Valyrian Steel spearheads from the burning Myr flagship as the Myr fleet fled.
• Daeren returned to Tyrosh, where Tywin reported the city secure and warned that Lys and Tyroshi pirates still threatened the Iron Throne's forces.
• Jaeherys and Stannis reported that they had captured ships, siege engines, and important prisoners.

Daeren dealt with captives from Myr, then led Jaeherys and Viserys in clearing Tyroshi pirates from the Stepstones. On Bloodstone Island, he found the wounded wild dragon Grey Ghost and began tending to it.

• Daeren imprisoned a Myr governor as a bargaining chip, ordered Sallo crippled and castrated, and pardoned Thoros of Myr by assigning him to Stannis's unit.
• Daeren held a war council, then left Tywin in Tyrosh and sent Randyll and Lord Paxter north toward Myr Bay while he took Jaeherys and Viserys to the Stepstones.
• Daeren and his brothers destroyed a Tyroshi pirate fleet, and Lord Lucerys ordered the Royal Fleet to help encircle and purge the pirates.
• Daeren found Grey Ghost badly wounded in the shallows near Bloodstone Island, while Toothless watched over the injured wild dragon.

Daeren treated Grey Ghost's severe wing injuries and accepted the wild dragon as his companion. Meanwhile, Cladahl prepared Myr Bay's fleet to face the approaching Redwyne Fleet, which was joined by three dragons led by Daeren.

• Daeren cut away Grey Ghost's rotten flesh, stitched its torn wing membrane, and treated its wounds with Life Elixir while Jaeherys and Viserys watched.
• After Grey Ghost recovered enough to fly, it showed affection toward Daeren, who agreed to take it with him rather than leave it vulnerable on Bloodstone Island.
• Cladahl threatened a messenger who summoned him to the governors' meeting, then ordered Myr Bay sealed and its defenses prepared.
• Pranda na Gisen sent Daario and a hundred Stormcrows to search the flank for an opening as Myr's warships formed a defensive line.
• The Redwyne Fleet approached Myr Bay, and Daeren flew ahead with a red dragon, Toothless, and Grey Ghost before ordering them to unleash dragonflame.

Daeren and the dragons broke the Myr fleet and pursued its forces into the city, where Daeren killed the fleeing commander Cladahl. Graulon prepared to send Blood Slaves against the Targaryen invasion.

• Toothless, Grey Ghost, Corax, and the other dragons burned Myr’s ships as Lord Paxter’s Redwyne Fleet broke through the disorganized defenses.
• Daario and Planda agreed to preserve their mercenaries, and many ships fled while the dragons drove the Myr fleet back toward the city.
• Tyrion reassured Tristan that they could win over Myr’s governors after dealing with Graulon, while Cladahl ordered his men to abandon their ships and fight in the streets.
• Daeren pursued the retreating Myr soldiers with Corax, located the limping Cladahl, and burned him and the soldiers around him in an alley.
• Graulon blamed Cladahl for bringing the fighting into Myr and ordered his subordinates to summon the Blood Slaves to resist Daeren.

Daeren raided a Myr warehouse for Secret Sail while the Iron Throne’s forces fought their way through the city’s port. As Stannis’s Dragon Tongue Knights shattered the mercenaries’ defense, Myr’s governors led a group of abused men and women and black-robed figures toward an aqueduct to prepare for the dragon.

• Daeren rode Corax into the East District, burned the warehouse guards, and collected 112 sheets of Secret Sail.
• Eddard Stark and the Iron Throne’s forces attacked Myr’s port as Randyll rejected Count Staunton’s demand to charge sooner.
• Randyll ordered Stannis to lead the charge, and Stannis’s eight hundred Dragon Tongue Knights swept over the chevaux-de-frise and routed the mercenaries.
• The black-robed man demanded water to deal with the dragon, and Myr’s governors escorted the group toward an aqueduct guarded by hundreds of soldiers.
• The ragged men and women secretly smeared blood on the ground and muttered while the guards drove them onward.

Tyrion learned that Graulon and the war faction were preparing to flee Myr, then joined Tristan in attacking a Blood Sacrifice meant to bring down Grey Ghost. Daeren and Corax destroyed the Wizards and their ships, and Daeren left to help the army occupy Myr while Tyrion remained fascinated by dragons.

• Tristan told Tyrion that Graulon planned to flee along the Valyrian road and that the war faction’s governors were preparing to evacuate.
• Tyrion realized Myr might surrender once its war faction fled and went with Tristan to attack the Wizards conducting a Blood Sacrifice at the canal.
• Tyrion and Tristan led mercenaries against the soldiers on shore, and Tyrion’s Dwarf Elephant, Tysha, trampled the red-bearded governor.
• The Wizards tried to lure Grey Ghost down with enchanted shields and rising columns of water, but the dragon stayed clear as the fighting disrupted their ritual.
• Daeren arrived on Corax, burned the fleeing Myr soldiers, and then destroyed the Wizards, ships, and soldiers on the canal with dragonflame.
• Daeren flew back to coordinate the occupation of Myr, while Tyrion watched the dragon in awe.

After taking Myr, Daeren learned that Governor Graulon had imprisoned Rhoynar and other captives to produce Secret Sails through Wizard blood. Daeren freed them and kept the sailmaking method for reference, then wondered what changes Moqorro’s prophecy might bring to the Smoking Sea, where Rhaegar was still searching for Dragon Eggs.

• The allied forces secured Myr while Stannis pursued Graulon and the other fleeing forces, and Tristan brought the governors to meet Daeren.
• Count Staunton presented Daeren with captives from Graulon’s mansion, including a Rhoynar priest who explained how Myr forced Wizards and Witches to make Secret Sails using their blood.
• Randyll recommended killing the captives, but Tyrion argued that enslaving them violated the laws of the Seven Kingdoms, and Daeren agreed to free them while preserving the method for reference.
• Daeren sent Tyrion to escort the captives away, but kept the Rhoynar priest and his grandson so he could learn from the priest and record his knowledge.
• While ransacking Graulon’s mansion, Daeren considered the approaching changes in the Smoking Sea and wondered whether Rhaegar had found the Dragon Eggs.

Rhaegar’s search for the Laughing Lion turned into a battle against Volantene mercenaries and Slaver’s Bay slaves, ending when Euron Greyjoy’s Silence rammed the ship. Rhaegar washed ashore near Tria, where Lyn returned with two Dragon Eggs and claimed he had fled only to retrieve them.

• Rhaegar and his men found the Laughing Lion near Tria, but mercenaries and slaves attacked them and overwhelmed their forces.
• Magnar sacrificed himself to drive enemies from the cabin, while Lyn Corbray fled and the others fought to protect Rhaegar and the Dragon Eggs.
• Euron Greyjoy arrived aboard the Silence and rammed the Laughing Lion, sending Rhaegar and Arlys into the sea as a strange pair of red eyes appeared in the smoke.
• Mith and Rickard found Rhaegar washed ashore near Tria; Alex was badly wounded, while Osmund Kettleblack and Balon Swann were missing.
• Lyn returned by longship with Osmund, the unconscious Desmond Redwyne, and two Dragon Eggs, claiming he had gone to retrieve them rather than desert.

Daeren recovered the original Riding Manual from Graulon's abandoned belongings and uncovered part of a spell that let Dragon Riders command dragons more effectively. After testing it with Corax, he suspected someone had deliberately spread the spell and decided to return to King's Landing to ask Varys to find the author.

• Stannis reported that Graulon had escaped but that he had seized two carriages of books and other items.
• Daeren found a Horsemanship Manual, a Riding Manual, and a High Valyrian book among Graulon's belongings, and recognized the Riding Manual as an original handwritten copy.
• Daeren discovered that the original Riding Manual contained part of a Binding Spell and analyzed how its dragon-riding vocabulary could work with a spell to direct a dragon.
• Daeren tested the incantation on Corax, who responded by breathing an exceptionally powerful stream of dragonflame.
• Daeren concluded that the Binding Spell remained incomplete and suspected a survivor of the Doom had deliberately leaked it through the Riding Manual.
• Daeren decided to return to King's Landing and have Varys investigate the author of the Riding Manual.

Daeren chaired a Small Council meeting on Myr’s governance and military rewards, defended Tyrion against Tywin’s attempt to order him around, and assigned fiefs in the Disputed Lands to several great houses. He ended by announcing that Tyrion would become the new Minister of Justice, leaving Count Staunton to ask what would happen to his own position.

• Tristan reported that Myr’s neutral governors were open to negotiations, and Tyrion recommended compensating civilians whose belongings soldiers had looted; Daeren approved Tyrion’s plan.
• Tywin arrived and tried to make Tyrion fetch him a chair, but Daeren stopped him and declared that only the King could order Tyrion around in the Small Council.
• Tywin defused the confrontation by praising Tyrion’s service to House Lannister, while Count Staunton brought him a chair.
• Randyll and Tywin submitted lists of military contributors from the capture of Myr and the Battle of Tyrosh, and Daeren proposed granting fiefs in the Disputed Lands to several great houses and deserving warriors.
• Tywin questioned the decision to grant fiefs to House Stark and House Royce, but Daeren refused to reconsider; he then announced Tyrion’s promotion to Minister of Justice and told Count Staunton to return to Rook’s Rest and keep moving chairs.

The Council of Governors agreed to seek peace with the Iron Throne after learning Rhaegar had found two Dragon Eggs, but a volcanic eruption in the Smoking Sea unleashed a vast storm across the seas. A month later, Daeren still waited in Myr for news as Tywin raised the rewards for Myr’s nobles and asked how the two Princes should receive their titles.

• Valar told the Council of Governors that Rhaegar had found two Dragon Eggs, and the governors voted almost unanimously to pursue peace with the Iron Throne.
• An earthquake-like disturbance and strange weather appeared in Lys and Myr as Daeren sensed a dangerous force brewing.
• Victarion and Rodrik saw the Smoking Sea erupt, and towering waves battered the Iron Fleet at New Ghis.
• After a month of storms and silence, Daeren remained in Myr while Tywin worried that his missing brother Gillian and the six Dragon Eggs aboard the Laughing Lion might be lost.
• Tywin told Daeren that Myr’s nobles expected rewards, and asked how the two Princes should be granted titles.

After returning to King's Landing, Daeren learned that the Smoking Sea’s haze was thinning and that Rhaegar had returned to Lys as its new prince. Daeren planned to bring Lys under the Iron Throne, search for the missing dragon, and grant Myr and Tyrosh to his brothers; Lady Olenna then raised an issue concerning House Martell.

• Daeren returned to King's Landing, greeted Rhaenys and the children, and corrected Rhaenys for calling Shayani the little Queen.
• Varys told Daeren that the Smoking Sea’s haze was thinning, potentially exposing the Valyrian Peninsula, and that Rhaegar had returned to Lys with two Dragon Eggs and been named Prince of Lys.
• Daeren ordered Varys to investigate the Smoking Sea and search Essos for the suspected missing dragon, while planning to make Lys submit peacefully to the Iron Throne.
• Daeren announced that Jaeherys and Viserys would receive Myr and Tyrosh as their territories, with responsibility for freeing slaves and defending the lands.
• Lady Olenna questioned Daeren about granting Myr and Tyrosh to his brothers, then said she had come to discuss the Iron Throne and House Martell.

Lady Olenna secured Daeron’s agreement to meet Prince Doran, who hoped to reconcile House Martell with the Iron Throne after losing faith in Rhaegar. Daeron also considered marriage matches for Jaeherys, while Doran prepared to travel to King’s Landing.

• Lady Olenna told Daeron that Prince Doran wanted to meet him and had sent her to learn his attitude toward House Martell.
• Daeron agreed to meet Doran and considered arranging a match between Jaeherys and either Lynesse Hightower or Arianne Martell.
• Doran learned that Daeron had agreed to meet and decided to travel to King’s Landing himself.
• Doran rejected any further support for Rhaegar after learning that Rhaegar had returned to Lys with two Dragon Eggs and had sent his children to King’s Landing.
• Doran reflected on Rhaenys’s good life in King’s Landing and Arianne’s complaints, then ordered Areo to keep gathering the army and prepare a ship.