Chapter Summaries

Daemon assessed the royal family and the Dragonseekers’ risks before proving his strength to Aeg in a sparring match. Aeg accepted him as an ally and promised him an opportunity to tame a dragon, while making clear he wanted to know the person he might face.

• Daemon reviewed the royal family and bastards, judging their loyalties and threats to the Dragonseekers.
• Daemon and Aeg entered the Red Keep courtyard and armed themselves for a sparring match.
• Daemon and Aeg traded fierce blows until Daemon pinned Aeg’s warhammer and held his sword to Aeg’s breastplate.
• Aeg acknowledged Daemon and said King Aegon was preparing to let him tame a dragon.
• Aeg promised to provide Daemon with the opportunity, and Daemon recognized that they were allies rather than friends.

Aeg learned that King Aegon intended to use him and Sheepstealer to attack the Dragonpit, while Daemon faced pressure from the Beleris family to provoke Caraxes. The chapter left Aeg agreeing to the king’s order despite his disgust.

• Aeg told Garmon that he hoped to align with Daemon through their shared interest in protecting their families, and Garmon warned him to speak carefully.
• Daeserys told Daemon that the Beleris family could use a secret mixture and incantations to enrage dragons, and urged him to rely on their help to claim Caraxes.
• Daemon warned Daeserys that gaining dragons could bring conflict with the royal family and the Valaerys family, and said he might only ride a dragon through an unforeseen crisis.
• Aeg learned that King Aegon had expanded the coinage to prop up the economy, leaving his successor to face a later price surge.
• King Aegon ordered Aeg to ride Sheepstealer and attack the Dragonpit the next day, saying other dragons would assist him, and Aeg agreed.

Dragons across King's Landing ran amok, and Daemon approached Caraxes amid the chaos. Caraxes accepted him as its rider and emerged from the Dragonpit, leaving Daemon's new bond with the Blood Wyrm established.

• Count Staunton heard the dragons' frantic roars and learned from a Kingsguard that the wild dragons at the Dragonpit had gone mad.
• Dreamfyre attacked another dragon, Seasmoke intervened, and their Dragonfire collided above the Dragonpit.
• Bensen blew Unicorn's horn to summon his dragon, but Unicorn continued struggling against Horn Tide as Daeron's Stormcloud separated them.
• Daeserys revealed that he had used a secret art and dragonblood from Serena of Lys to reduce the dragons' aggression, while Daemon warned him not to act behind his back again.
• Daemon approached Caraxes and proved himself to the dragon, which let him climb into its harness and then left the Dragonpit with him as its new rider.

Igor learned how the Beleris ritual affected dragons and received reassurance from Lonzell that dragon lairs protected them from such magic. He and Lingor prepared for the chaos expected after Lonzell’s death, while the Valaerys family’s influence spread through the realm.

• Lonzell explained to Igor that the ritual made dragons recoil from a hated scent, but dragon lairs protected them from its effects.
• Igor returned to Lingor, who said the Valaerys family would remain cautious until the Targaryens faced trouble and asked what preparations had been made.
• Igor reported that Lonzell had approved plans to take effect after his death, when the realm fell into chaos, and Lingor pledged to help.
• Garin watched Daemon train with Caraxes and remembered Galins, who had died in agony.
• The new Duke of Tyrell thanked Prince Lingor’s envoy for the Valaerys family’s aid and promised the Tyrells would help in return.

Duke Cregan ordered the North to prepare for trouble after King Aegon's death, while Lonzell prepared a grand feast where he would return his magic and life to the Red Mountains. The chapter ended with his family preparing for the gathering and the political upheaval it could unleash.

• Rickon told Duke Cregan that Baslon had warned the North to watch its borders and prepare for conflicts after King Aegon's death.
• Duke Cregan ordered northern lords and scouts to monitor the Dreadfort, the Neck, and Moat Cailin.
• Lonzell told Daenerys, Rey, and Igor that he would hold a grand feast in King's Landing and discussed names for Daenerys's unborn child.
• Lonzell instructed Igor to manage the Dragonriders at the feast, giving him room to provoke the king and intensify tensions.
• Lonzell told Rey that at the feast in half a month he would return his magic and life to the Red Mountains.

At a grand feast in Westeros, Igor read Mushroom’s account of the Valaerys family’s arrival before Lonzell prepared to end his life and bind himself to the mountains. Lonzell merged with the stone in dragonfire, changing the mountain range as the forces of the world reacted to the end of the Song of Fire.

• Igor read Mushroom’s account of Lonzell and the Valaerys family arriving in King’s Landing while Sebastian listened.
• Lonzell praised Igor’s plan to display the dragons and told him to help maintain the balance during the coming intermission.
• Lonzell led Igor and the others to the Dragonpit, where he declared that he would become the Crimson Mountains and serve as a final barrier against the Long Night.
• Melisandre announced that she would serve the Valaerys family until the Long Night ended and a new era began.
• Lonzell’s blood spread across the stone as Vomysor’s Dragonfire burned him, and he merged into the mountain wall.
• The mountain range changed, dragons stirred, and distant beings reacted as the Song of Fire ended.

At the banquet before the first Dragonrider tournament, Rheogar and Baelon Targaryen voiced their resentment toward the Valaerys family and praised Daemon for taming Caraxes. The gathering fell silent when Rheogar declared that Vomysor was the dragon the Targaryens should claim.

• The Valaeryses discussed their dragons and their plans to respond if tensions escalated, while Igor urged restraint after Lonzell's death.
• Maegon and Ilion worried about the abilities of Maegon's children, and Varys reported that Rheogar and Baelon were speaking with the bastard Dragonriders.
• Rheogar and Baelon praised Daemon for taming Caraxes and criticized Damian and Otherys.
• Rheogar asked Daemon how he had tamed Caraxes, then declared that Vomysor was the dragon the Targaryens should tame now that it had lost its master.
• The banquet fell silent before Rheogar could finish speaking.

At Prince Lonzell’s gathering, Rhaegar declared that the Targaryens should reclaim Vomysor, provoking Daemion and Maegor. While the guests argued, Igor went to the unguarded Dragonpit and climbed onto Vomysor, whose roar shook Summerhall.

• Rhaegar argued that the Targaryens had the right to tame Vomysor and urged Daemon to share his experience with old dragons.
• Daemion hurled wine cups at Rhaegar, and Maegor scolded his son for insulting the Valaerys family.
• Daemon realized Igor had vanished and suspected he had gone to tame Vomysor.
• Igor climbed onto Vomysor’s back and called to the dragon.
• Vomysor raised its head and roared, shaking Summerhall.

Igor took flight on Vomysor, the ancient dragon whose size and power stunned the Targaryens and the assembled lords. After Sebastian urged both families to preserve peace, he redirected attention to the planned tournament of the dragonriders.

• Igor commanded Vomysor to fly and felt the dragon's memories of Jaehaerys and Lonzell as they formed a connection.
• Vomysor rose over the banquet grounds and flew back toward King's Landing, astonishing Maegor, Rhaegar, and the other Targaryens.
• Lingor and Jacaerys discussed how Valaerys's strength and Aegon's mistakes had weakened the royal family's position.
• Maegor confronted Rhaegar, while Ig considered challenging Vomysor and Daemon stopped him.
• Sebastian urged the Targaryens and Valaerys to maintain peace and pointed to the coming dragonrider tournament.

Seryna and Aurion recognized that the confrontation at Prince Lonzell Varezes’s feast had exposed the Valaerys family’s ambitions and ended plans for a joint Dragonrider Tourney. The Targaryens refused to participate, leaving the Valaerys dragons to perform alone as tensions between the families deepened.

• Maegon apologized to the Valaerys family for his son’s behavior, while the Targaryens stood in anger and unease.
• Seryna questioned Aurion about the equipment supplied to Dacerys Baeleris’s cavalry, and Aurion credited Jie with providing it.
• Seryna concluded that the Targaryens would withdraw from the Dragonrider Tourney and discussed the Valaerys plan to gain influence through Daeron and Xiri’s marriage and their descendants.
• Ilion apologized to Prince Lingor and announced that the Targaryens would take the two boys away and would not join the dragon dance.
• The Targaryens refused to attend the tourney, and the Valaerys dragons performed alone, shocking the assembled lords.

As Aegon III's health failed, House Valaerys strengthened its hold over the court after Daeron and Xirui's Golden Wedding, while the bastard Dragonriders gradually lost military authority. The chapter leaves Igor and Brynden suspecting that the king intended to legitimize the bastards.

• Lords across the realm formed secret alliances as Aegon III's illness left Daeron increasingly in control as regent.
• Daeron and Xirui held a lavish wedding, and Prince Aurion and Serena brought wealth that eased the crown's financial troubles.
• House Valaerys gained control of several Small Council offices, and Daeron took over the council as regent.
• House Valaerys gradually reclaimed military authority from the bastard Dragonriders, but Aegon III's worsening illness interrupted its efforts.
• Brynden told Igor that Aegon III had summoned the Grand Maester, the Hand, and Maegon, and Igor suspected the king planned to legitimize the bastards.

Igor learned that Aegon III had planned to legitimize his bastards and initially hoped to change the heir. As the king’s Dragonrider sons considered the news, Daemon urged them to obey whatever their father commanded.

• Brinden told Igor that Aegon III had summoned the royal family’s moderate faction and argued with Maegon about Daeron’s regency.
• Brinden explained that Aegon III had wanted to legitimize his bastards and first intended to change the heir.
• Garin gathered the crown’s Dragonriders at his villa, where Benson asked whether the news was true.
• Igg warned Benson that their father needed them to balance the Valaerys family and that their brother might abandon them.
• Benson asked what they should do, and Daemon said they should follow whatever their father commanded.

As King Aegon grew gravely ill, Daeron and his allies prepared to protect the Red Keep while Igor arranged for Vomysor to land there. Aegon began dictating a final decree recognizing his children’s inheritance rights, then died before events could be settled.

• Benson remained cautious about Daemon’s proposal, while Garin signaled that the situation was more complicated than Daemon had suggested.
• Daeron and his allies discussed the king’s hostility and prepared defenses, with Igor identifying the danger posed by the bastards and their dragons.
• Aegon accused the Grand Maester of serving the Silver Dragon and began dictating a final decree recognizing his children’s lawful inheritance rights.
• Vomysor descended upon the Red Keep, and Daemon told the other bastards to wait for their father’s orders.
• Aegon ordered the decree delivered to the Master of Laws, dismissed the Grand Maester, and died; Ser Garwin Corbray announced his death in the throne room.

After Aegon died, Daeron accepted his final command recognizing his bastards as Targaryen blood and prepared the funeral. As Daeron faced pressure to deal with his dragon-riding brothers, the chapter left him being urged to reclaim Blackfyre or eliminate them.

• Aegon died alone, and Daeron accepted his final command acknowledging his bastards as Targaryen blood.
• Daeron ordered the funeral to proceed as planned, while Garmon told the bastard Dragonriders that Daeron would summon them afterward and advised them to be prepared.
• Ig warned that Daemon's Blackfyre and Caraxes could make him a threat to Daeron, but Daemon urged everyone to focus on the present.
• Count Marweys urged Daeron to reclaim Blackfyre or eliminate the dragon-riding bastards.

Daeron became king and proposed dividing and controlling his bastard brothers rather than purging them, while Count Marwyse continued to oppose allowing bastard Dragonriders to remain a threat. The chapter ended with Daeron defending his arrangements at the Small Council meeting, without persuading Marwyse.

• Aurion, Serina, and Igor discussed Daeron's refusal to alter the late king's decree or harm his recognized blood relatives.
• Igor said the Valaerys family would proceed step by step and described protections for his father, Aurion, and Serina.
• Syrax burned Aegon III's body, and the High Septon crowned Daeron with Daeron I's crown.
• Daeron appointed Lingor Valaerys as Hand and filled the Small Council with his supporters.
• Daeron proposed separate arrangements for his bastard brothers, but Count Marwyse insisted that bastard Dragonriders threatened royal authority.

Daeron rejected Count Maeryweiss's demand to execute bastard Dragonriders and tasked him with watching the remaining bastards in King's Landing. In Oldtown, Aemon and Illyon approved Daeron's arrangements for Daemon, who then found his mother refusing to welcome him at Sow's Corner.

• Count Maeryweiss argued for executing bastard Dragonriders, but Daeron upheld the law and entrusted him with watching the bastards in King's Landing.
• Illyon told Aemon that Daemon had received Sow's Corner while Caraxes would remain in King's Landing, and that Daeron had imposed new rules on the crown's Dragonriders.
• Aemon praised Daeron's handling of the situation, while Illyon noted that Daemon still held Blackfyre.
• Princess Diana shut the gates of Silver Widow Manor against Daemon and his party at Sow's Corner.
• Daemon asked Quentyn Ball what his mother had said, and Quentyn reported that she wished Daemon had stayed in the Red Keep.

After Daeron took the throne, he stabilized the Crownlands, cleared Aegon III’s influence from court, and brought unrest in the Conquered Lands to an end. A severe winter then lasted nearly four years, while Daeron’s reign and the Valaerys family entered a period of growth and relative peace.

• Princess Diana accepted Daemon’s return to Silver Widow Manor after he explained why he had been forced to compromise with Daeron.
• Daeron withdrew gold from the Conquered Lands, stabilized the Crownlands’ currency, and replaced Aegon III’s courtiers with nobles from other regions.
• Count Lucas Rosstan died, and Brinden’s eyes expanded into a broad intelligence network as Aegon III’s influence disappeared from court.
• The Second Sons stabilized in House Bol’s lands, and the Conquered Lands settled into peace.
• Winter brought blizzards, heavy snow, and Wildlings south, while the Night’s Watch and the North reinforced the Wall.
• By the ninth year of Daeron’s reign, Daenerys Valaerys and Barthlon Stark had children, Sebastian Valaerys married into House Martell, Daeron and Cyrie welcomed Baelor, and Daemon raised a family with Rohanne.

Daemon learned that Maelor Sunfyre had died while Daesirys warned him that Jedaolins could draw unwanted scrutiny from the Dragonlord families. Stormlands nobles made their thirteenth appeal for Daemon’s support, but he left when his mother called for him.

• Quentyn Boll told Daemon that Aegon would arrive in a few days under the alias Landel the Harper.
• Daesirys said that none of their efforts had prolonged Maelor Sunfyre’s life and warned that Jedaolins’s unusual behavior could threaten their plans.
• Ser Stokeworth complained that Silver Dragon controlled the court, while Daemon tried to reassure him that the king would not mistreat his elders.
• Ser Ponlos asked Daemon to support the Stormlands, and Daemon noted that he had already written twelve letters on their behalf.
• A woman called sharply for Daemon, and he hurried away after asking Daesirys to receive the guests.

Daecerys and his allies discussed using the Brotherhood to act against Prince Lingor, while Quentyn Boll warned that previous assassination attempts had failed. In King's Landing, Daenerys teased Igor as their children played, leaving Jonir comforted by Meggie.

• Ser Stokeworth proposed using the Brotherhood to remove Prince Lingor while protecting the conspirators from blame.
• Quentyn Boll warned that Lingor was guarded and described two failed assassination attempts.
• Ser Stokeworth quietly explained his plan to Daecerys and Quentyn Boll, who reacted with surprise and fear.
• Daenerys teased Igor about a plan from their past while Meggie and Jonir chased and played nearby.
• Meggie comforted Jonir by pointing out that he had managed to touch her, and Daenerys said he would not overpower his sister until she had her first period.

Daemon left his mother Diana after enduring her complaints and discussed an assassination plot against Prince Lingor with Daesirys, who planned to use the fallout to strengthen Daemon’s supporters. In King’s Landing, Brynden saw that conspirators intended to assassinate the Hand during the next Hand’s procession and banquet, and told Serina he and Igor were prepared.

• Diana repeatedly urged Daemon to resent Daeron and claim the status she believed he deserved, while keeping Daemon’s wife Rohanne under strict control.
• Daemon met Daesirys in a wine cellar, where Daesirys explained that disgruntled nobles planned to assassinate Prince Lingor.
• Daemon condemned the crude plan and worried that it would provoke the fury of two Dragonlord families.
• Daesirys told Daemon that Valantis’s aid had reached the Conquest Lands and that he and Bol would gather support and intelligence without openly rebelling.
• Brynden used the Weirwoods to see Daesirys’s plotting and the plans of discontented lords, then told Serina that conspirators would target the Hand during the next procession and banquet.
• Brynden told Serina that he and Igor had prepared for the threat since the Hand arrived in King’s Landing.