Chapter Summaries

Dan tamed Senzelos after enduring the dragon’s fury and connecting with its fears, giving the Valaerys family another Dragonrider. The chapter ended with Viserys ordering Aegon to target Vermax.

• Dan climbed onto Senzelos and held on as the dragon struggled, while Kongyi and Salafas restrained it.
• Dan entered a vision of Senzelos’s fears and promised to remain by its side, winning the dragon’s acceptance.
• Senzelos stopped resisting Dan, and Dan rode it into the sky as the Valaerys family celebrated.
• Viserys asked Aegon which dragon he would claim, and Aegon named Vermax.

Viserys brought Aegon to meet Vermax and pressed him to tame the dragon, while Daeron and Rhaegar planned a future trip to Dragonstone to claim dragons. In King's Landing, Lingor's siblings objected to the Targaryens being allowed to tame Vermax, but Lingor reminded them that Father had agreed and that Torchfire remained with the Targaryens.

• Viserys stopped the carriage and ordered Aegon to meet Vermax, arguing that he could not tame the dragon without approaching him.
• Daeron told Rhaegar that he wanted to tame dragons, and the brothers agreed to travel to Dragonstone after the family feast.
• Rhaegar revealed that he had set his sights on Seasmoke.
• Jacaerys protested that the Targaryens should not be allowed to tame Vermax, and Serena and Damon supported his objection.
• Lingor reminded his siblings that Father had agreed to let the Targaryens try and that Torchfire was still with their family.

As the families debated whether the Targaryens should tame Vermax, Lingor chose to let them act without Valaerys assistance. Valar, gravely ill, refused Lonzell’s offer to extend his life and prepared to attend the feast; the chapter ended as Viserys rose to speak at the banquet.

• Serina and Aurion warned Lingor that yielding Vermax could lead the Targaryens to claim Vomysor and Silverwing, while Jacaerys opposed surrendering either dragon.
• Dan urged his siblings to wait and see, and Lingor decided the Valaerys family would not interfere with the Targaryens’ own dragon-taming methods.
• Valar told Lonzell and Rey that he did not want blood magic to prolong his life, but asked to ride Silverwing once more and attend the banquet without being stopped from drinking.
• Lonzell eased Valar’s pain with fire magic and told Rey to gather the children atop Dragonpit Tower the following night.
• The royal family arrived in King’s Landing, where Stormcloud, Ember, and Igaras reunited with the dragons in the Dragonpit.
• At the feast, Valar arrived in a chair and urged the servants to begin serving; Viserys then rose with a cup of wine to speak.

At the Valaerys feast, Prince Aegon left to try to claim Vermax, unaware that the dragon would reject him. Samantha hurried to the Dragonpit, but Vermax engulfed Aegon in flames before a gray-black tentacle caught him.

• Lonzell gave Viserys permission to preside over the feast, and the guests celebrated with food, wine, and dancing.
• Prince Aegon attempted to approach Serena and Valenna, but Daeron and Dan blocked him, and he returned to his seat.
• Lonzell reminded Viserys that Aegon could try to tame Vermax, and Aegon left the feast for the Dragonpit.
• Samantha realized Vermax would reject Aegon and hurried after him while King Aegon remained at the feast.
• Aegon entered Vermax's lair and identified himself, but Vermax breathed flames over him before a gray-black tentacle wrapped around his waist.

After Aegon failed to tame Vermax, Samantha urged Viserys to be patient about strengthening the Targaryen dragonriders and reaffirmed the need for peace. A sudden alarm brought the dragons into the sky, where Valar prepared to take flight on Silverwing as the Valaerys family gathered around him.

• Samantha rescued Aegon from Vermax and reassured him after the failed attempt to tame the dragon.
• Samantha challenged Viserys for pressing the Valaerys family to provide dragonriders, and he admitted he had acted too hastily.
• Samantha and Viserys recalled the marriage arrangements between Elena and Rhaegon and discussed the need for peace and gradual unity between their families.
• Bells rang and the Dragonpit shook, prompting Samantha to mount Spark and fly to the tower as dragons took to the sky.
• Viserys was prevented from reaching the tower while the Valaerys family gathered around Silverwing, and Valar fastened his saddle and commanded the dragon to take flight.

Valar rode Silverwing into the sky and died in its Dragonfire, leaving the dragon to mourn. At Lonzell’s urging, Valenna approached Silverwing, which accepted her as its new rider.

• Valar insisted on riding Silverwing one last time despite his failing health, and the dragons gathered in the sky to honor him.
• Silverwing hesitated when Valar commanded it to breathe Dragonfire, but obeyed after sensing that his life had ended, burning him to ashes in the sky.
• Silverwing returned to Dragonpit Tower with an empty saddle as the dragons mourned and King's Landing heard its anguished cry.
• Lonzell told Valenna that Silverwing was the companion Valar had left for her, and she walked toward the dragon without hesitation.
• Silverwing lowered its head and allowed Valenna to climb into the saddle, and she ordered it to take flight.

Valenna bonded with Silverwing, while Rey and Lonzell quietly agreed to honor each other’s wishes about their bodies. Daeron then asked Viserys for permission to take Aemon and Aegon to Dragonstone to tame wild dragons, and remained determined despite hearing the dangers of Seasmoke and Sheepstealer.

• Silverwing completed her flight and returned to Dragonpit Tower, where Valenna dismounted and her family comforted her as she mourned Valar.
• Rey asked Lonzell to handle his body as he had handled Valar’s, and Lonzell agreed.
• Viserys dismissed Aegon without blaming him, then heard Daeron ask to take Aemon and Aegon to Dragonstone to tame dragons.
• Viserys and Aegon warned Daeron about Seasmoke and Sheepstealer, including their dangerous histories and habits.
• Daeron insisted that he and the other Targaryens could tame wild dragons just as the Valaerys family had.

Samantha, Daeron, and Aemon traveled to Dragonstone to approach the wild dragon Seasmoke. Aemon won Seasmoke’s acceptance and became his second rider.

• Samantha agreed to escort Daeron and Aemon to seek dragons, while King Aegon stayed in King’s Landing with Prince Aegon.
• Torch carried Samantha, Daeron, and Aemon to Driftmark, where Joffrey joined them and Addam confirmed Seasmoke was not there.
• The group found Seasmoke hunting near Dragonstone, and Torch and Tyraxes drove him toward the island.
• Aemon approached Seasmoke alone and asked the dragon to accept him as his companion.
• Aemon climbed onto Seasmoke, who accepted him as his second rider and returned to the Targaryen dragonflock.

Aemon tamed Seasmoke on Dragonstone, while Prince Aegon gained Syrax’s acceptance in King’s Landing. As news of the new dragonriders spread, Valantis’s Elephant Party targeted suspected Dragonlord descendants, and exiles on Grey Terror Island pinned their hopes on Maelor’s newborn child.

• Seasmoke flew Aemon to the Sheepstealer’s former valley, where it found only ash and sheep bones, then burned the site in anger.
• Aemon suggested trying Dreamfyre next and said Caraxes could help restrain it; Samantha agreed they could attempt it together.
• Prince Aegon approached Syrax, and the dragon lowered itself so he could climb onto its saddle without resistance.
• News of Aemon and Prince Aegon taming Seasmoke and Syrax spread, while Valantis’s Elephant Party compiled lists of suspected Dragonlord descendants for King’s Landing.
• On Grey Terror Island, a silver-haired exile lamented their stalled plans, while his purple-bearded companion said Maelor’s newborn child was their hope.

Morora Unabar worried that the Silver Dragon's agents might discover the identity of Maelor's hidden son, while Ayal shared news from King's Landing. The chapter left Morora learning that Prince Daeron had tamed Dreamfyre and that the Arbiter's wife was pregnant.

• Morora asked Ayal whether the Silver Dragon's vipers had found the boy, and Ayal said neither Hurd nor Maelor knew the child's true identity.
• Ayal explained that Maelor and Lady Hightower had lost their golden-haired legitimate son and had no other children before her death.
• Morora asked for news from King's Landing, and Ayal reported that Prince Daeron had tamed Dreamfyre.
• Ayal told Morora that the Arbiter's wife was pregnant.

Morola and Ayal discussed Daniella’s pregnancy and the hope that dragonblood might produce hatchling dragons, while Rey tortured Balerion for information and planned to turn him against the Valaerys family. In King’s Landing, Lonzell told Lingor that Daniella had lost the child and would have to conceive again after the magma settled.

• Morola learned that Daniella was pregnant again and discussed with Ayal why she had not appeared before the people of Summerhall.
• Ayal warned Morola to stop drinking, and Morola regretted not staying in Oldtown among other dragonblood descendants.
• Rey identified his captive as Balerion Beleris, who had delivered supplies to Grey Terror Island and carried news to Morola.
• Rey ordered Balerion tortured and intended for his hatred of the Valaerys family to grow.
• Lonzell told Lingor that Daniella had lost the child and might have died if they had not discovered the danger in time.
• Lonzell assured Lingor that Daniella could conceive again once the magma settled and bear a true heir.

Old Rigo recounted his travels and performed a play about the fall of the false dragon for Viserys in Oldtown. Viserys learned that Crown Prince Daeron had requested Rigo’s ballads from the Disputed Lands, and his expression changed sharply.

• Rigo told Viserys how war and plunder had stripped him of his troupe and wealth before he reached Oldtown.
• Viserys watched a play depicting the Dance of the Dragons, with Lonzell and Jacaerys celebrated as the Greens were defeated.
• Rigo explained that he had gathered stories in Silvercrown City, Blackport, and King's Landing, and mentioned the Valaerys family’s celebration of Lady Daniella’s pregnancy.
• Rigo said Crown Prince Daeron had received his troupe and asked for the ballads he had collected in the Disputed Lands.
• Viserys reacted with sudden alarm when he heard of Daeron’s request.

Viserys and Lingor learned that Daeron was gathering intelligence on the Disputed Lands, prompting the Valaerys family to prepare while waiting to see what he would do. Daniella then dreamed of an unseen son wearing his father's crown, with a vast silver dragon behind him.

• Viserys grew concerned after learning that Daeron had requested ballads about the Disputed Lands and suspected he might be planning to intervene there.
• Lingor told Jacaerys, Dan, and Aurion that Daeron had begun gathering intelligence on the Disputed Lands, and he asked them to study its factions and conflicts.
• Lingor explained that the Valaerys family was planting agents and gathering information in preparation for possible upheaval, while hoping Daeron would act wisely.
• Daenerys called Lingor to Daniella after she woke frightened, and Daniella told him she had dreamed of their son wearing his father's crown beside a silver dragon larger than the sky.

The Valaerys family welcomed new children as growing numbers of noble sons and wandering knights strained the realm’s stability. King Aegon II died suddenly after decades of peace, and his successor, King Daeron, summoned the lords to a Great Council at Harrenhal.

• Daniella safely gave birth to Igor, whose mismatched eyes included a brilliant gold one, and Lonzell raised him alongside Diana.
• Helaena and Jacaerys welcomed Otherys, while Dan and Valenna had a son named Daemion; the Valaerys brothers took charge of military strongholds and forces.
• Rhaegar tamed Horn Tide, Elenna’s golden-streaked dragon egg hatched, and Ilion tamed Vermax to serve as a royal Dragonrider.
• King Aegon worked to manage robber knights and wandering knights, but collapsed after lunch and died from a sudden stroke at forty-eight.
• After Aegon’s funeral, Samantha withdrew into the Black Palace, and King Daeron flew to Harrenhal to convene a Great Council.

Daeron gathered the lords of the Seven Kingdoms at Harrenhal and proposed an expedition to conquer and divide the Disputed Lands. The lords hesitated, but Daeron invoked the kingdom’s dragons as he sought their support.

• Jacaerys and Dan arrived at Harrenhal and saw the gathered armies and nobles, prompting Dan to conclude that Daeron was preparing for war.
• The lords of the Seven Kingdoms assembled in the Hall of a Hundred Hearths while several dragons gathered around Harrenhal.
• Daeron described the wealth and vulnerability of the Disputed Lands and proposed an expedition to conquer them.
• Daeron promised participating families the land and castles they conquered, and reassured hesitant lords by pointing to Dreamfyre and the kingdom’s dragons.

Daeron secretly met with the realm's leading nobles to explain his plan for an expedition into Essos and secure their military support. With the council's vote already passed, he asked how many soldiers each lord could provide.

• Daeron received the great lords beneath Harrenhal's heart tree, with Prince Aemon guarding him.
• Daeron explained that the realm needed to send surplus noblemen to war to ease tensions and bring wealth back to the crown.
• Daeron argued that dragons and the weakened powers in the Disputed Lands gave the realm an advantage over Valantis.
• Daeron asked the gathered lords how many men they could provide for the expedition.

Daeron presented the realm’s plan to conquer the Disputed Lands, winning troop, fleet, and dragon support from the great houses. News of the expedition spread across Essos, where the Iron Bank and rival cities began weighing their responses, as Lingor received a letter from Dan and Jacaerys.

• Daeron and Prince Aemon outlined an invasion plan centered on capturing Rika Rakron, and the great houses pledged troops, provisions, ships, and dragons while voicing concerns about winter and the campaign’s risks.
• Dan said he and Jacaerys would take their dragons to Tyrosh to help the army cross the sea, while the Silver Fleet would cover Daeron’s forces.
• News of Westeros’s planned invasion reached Essos, prompting envoys to travel and cities including Lys, Myr, Pentos, and Valantis to take different actions.
• Iron Bank keyholders debated whether to oppose Westeros or protect their interests in the Disputed Lands, then learned that Aegon Targaryen would arrive in Braavos as an envoy.
• In King's Landing, Lingor received a letter from Dan and Jacaerys as Daenerys played with Igor and Igor pretended to cry when Lingor caught them.

Lingor reported that the king planned to conquer the Disputed Lands with six dragons, and Lonzell showed him why the Valaerys family should prepare rather than join the campaign recklessly. Lingor left understanding that the Silver Dragon would wait, gather intelligence, and be ready to act when the opportunity came.

• Lingor told Lonzell that the king lacked intelligence about the Disputed Lands but intended to invade with six adult dragons and troops from across the realm.
• Lingor explained the king’s plan to seize Rika Rakron, conquer nearby territories, and rely on fleets including the Redwyne and Iron fleets.
• Lonzell questioned whether the king understood the dangers along the Weeping Coast, and Lingor acknowledged that the king trusted his dragons and the Ironborn to prevail.
• Lonzell asked how Lingor would conquer the Disputed Lands, and Lingor proposed gathering intelligence, exploiting rivalries among its factions, and winning over local agents before using dragons and force to secure their loyalty.
• Lingor understood that the Valaerys family would stay prepared but not clean up after Daeron’s poorly planned campaign, then left the garden as Valaerys cavalry drilled in King's Landing.

After remembering that Prince Aegon was being sent to Braavos as an envoy, Lingor worried that Aegon and Syrax could help create another dragonriding family. Lonzell advised him to investigate Aegon rather than assume the worst, while Aegon promised Viserys he would leave no women, men, or dragon eggs behind; he departed for Braavos as Diana watched him admiringly.

• Lingor found Dan's letter and remembered that Viserys had agreed to send Prince Aegon to Braavos, so he hurried to tell Lonzell and Diana.
• Lingor urged his parents to stop Aegon from taking Syrax to Braavos, fearing they could leave behind the means to create another dragonriding family.
• Lonzell told Lingor to learn more about Aegon and suggested that Viserys's tolerance of his behavior showed he was more than he appeared.
• Viserys questioned Aegon before his departure, and Aegon promised not to leave anyone or any dragon eggs in Braavos.
• Aegon departed on Syrax while Diana watched him with worshipful eyes.

Prince Aegon visited Rey at the Twin Towers to ask for help before his embassy to Braavos, admitting he feared he might be compromised. Rey offered ways to guard against Braavosi schemes, and Aegon accepted any personal consequences so long as the family was not harmed.

• Shadowmare sensed another dragon near King's Landing, and Syrax arrived with Prince Aegon at the Twin Towers.
• Prince Aegon respectfully asked Rey to announce him to Prince Lonzell, but Rey said his brother had gone to sleep.
• Prince Aegon admitted he did not trust himself to resist Braavosi schemes during his embassy.
• Rey suggested a Lysene poison, using Syrax to deter the Braavosi, or avoiding Braavos itself.
• Prince Aegon said he could accept every consequence as long as it did not harm the family's interests.