Chapter Summaries

Daemon issued a proclamation seeking skilled people to develop his domain, then welcomed new followers and assigned them roles across the peninsula. After rallying them to his cause, he looked ahead to building a stronger domain and an empire.

• Daemon ordered Rayford Rosby to spread his recruitment proclamation throughout the peninsula, Westeros, and across the Narrow Sea.
• Herman Dustin arrived with Rona Stout and Wendon Stout and asked to help reclaim the central wilderness.
• Willie Fell and Criston Cole came to serve Daemon, who welcomed them and held a feast to assess the applicants’ skills.
• Daemon appointed Herman to oversee reclamation, Willie to train troops and patrol the eastern border, and Criston to assist Rayford with military affairs; he assigned other applicants to suitable work.
• Daemon rewarded the new followers and led them in vows to develop and defend his domain, while Beren Dustin, Theogood Fell, and Alaric Dondarrion each responded to the news from afar.

Daemon visited Craghas Drahar, the forgotten former Prince of Myr imprisoned on Dragonstone, and accepted his demand for a duel. He ordered Craghas released from his cell and led him into the sunlight, leaving their long-delayed fight ahead.

• Daemon flew Glutton to Dragonstone and told the guards he wanted to see Craghas Drahar.
• Daemon found Craghas weakened by months in the dungeon, but Craghas insisted on a duel to reclaim his dignity as a warrior.
• Daemon accepted Craghas's challenge and ordered the guards to open his cell.
• Craghas left the dungeon and followed Daemon outside, where he saw Glutton circling overhead and felt his fighting spirit stir again.

Daemon brought Craghas Drahar out of Dragonstone’s dungeon and faced him in a duel on the beach, where Craghas fought with the desperate intent to die. Daemon disarmed and stopped him, leaving Craghas alive as he fell back with his eyes closed.

• Daemon led Craghas out of the dungeon and along Dragonstone’s coast, where Craghas recalled his campaigns in the Stepstones and spoke of his lost hopes for Myr and the Narrow Sea.
• Daemon and Craghas went to the beach for a duel; both set aside armor, and Craghas took up a longsword.
• Craghas attacked with increasingly reckless strikes, while Daemon defended and urged him not to seek death in a contest without hatred.
• Craghas launched a final attack, but Daemon struck the spine of his sword with Blackfyre, knocking the weapon away, and steadied Craghas by the shoulder.

Daemon spared Craghas Drahar after their duel and persuaded him to abandon thoughts of death and swear allegiance, promising him command of his fleet and future rule over Myr. As the two began their new alliance, Daemon reflected on the Dragon Mark’s growing power and its unexplored secrets.

• After defeating Craghas Drahar, Daemon refused to kill him and urged him to carry his former glory forward rather than seek death.
• Daemon declared that the old Craghas Drahar had died in their duel and offered the surviving warrior a place as his commander and future governor of Myr.
• Craghas accepted Daemon’s offer, swore allegiance, and was appointed fleet commander and naval commander of the Principality of Blackfyre, with the promise of becoming imperial admiral.
• Craghas marveled at Daemon’s seemingly effortless strength, realized Daemon was only fourteen, and felt relieved that they were no longer enemies.
• Daemon considered how the Dragon Mark had strengthened him during the duel and wondered what other powers it might hold.

After defeating Craghas Drahar, Daemon left him on Dragonstone to await the fleet from Dragon's Roost Port. Craghas worried about the political consequences of Daemon freeing him, but chose to trust his prince's arrangements.

• The guard captain and his patrol found Daemon and Craghas on the beach after their duel, while seasoned guards praised Daemon's swordsmanship.
• The guards prepared a supper for Daemon and Craghas, but Grey Ghost had to return to Daemon when he tried to steal bread.
• Daemon told Craghas to rest on Dragonstone and be ready for the fleet from Dragon's Roost Port the next morning.
• Daemon left Dragonstone on Glutton with Grey Ghost, flying toward Dragon's Roost Port.
• Craghas worried that Daemon's unauthorized release might cause trouble, then followed the guard captain to the barracks and resolved to trust Daemon.

Craghas Drahar met the Dragon's Roost Port fleet at Dragonstone and joined its commanders as a trusted naval expert under Prince Daemon. He sailed for Dragon's Roost Port, ready to help strengthen its fleet and reclaim his glory.

• Craghas Drahar waited anxiously at Dragonstone until Colin Celtigar and Alyn Redwyne arrived with Little Horas Oliver Redwyne to escort him.
• Colin, Alyn, and Horas welcomed Craghas as a colleague, and Craghas declared that their old enmity was behind them.
• Alyn showed Craghas the fleet's improved ships, and Craghas praised their design and advised Horas on a proposed detachable ram.
• Colin told Craghas that the fleet would reach Dragon's Roost Port the next afternoon, where Prince Daemon had prepared a banquet and expected his naval guidance.
• Craghas sailed from Dragonstone with his doubts gone and resolved to help Prince Daemon build a powerful navy.

Craghas Drahar arrived at Dragon's Roost Port and advised Daemon's officers on improving the fleet and preparing for ocean warfare. After seeing the port's growing prosperity, Daemon ordered an expanded navy and a trained marine force, while Craghas committed himself to serving as fleet commander.

• Craghas Drahar advised Little Horas, Colin Celtigar, and Alyn Redwyne on ship designs, patrol tactics, and naval warfare, estimating that the fleet could become ready for ocean campaigns in three months.
• Craghas arrived at Dragon's Roost Port, where Daemon welcomed him as fleet commander and showed him the busy naval base.
• Craghas proposed a force of fifty warships for a campaign to conquer the Summer Isles, and Daemon ordered the port to build them within three months.
• Daemon ordered supplies from the rye harvest reserved for the navy, while Rickard Rowan reported that the crop would feed the port for half a year.
• Daemon directed Lyonel to select two thousand recruits for Craghas to train as marines, and Lyonel agreed to cooperate with him.

Daemon appointed Craghas Drahar to reform Dragon's Roost Port’s navy and laid out a gradual plan to conquer the Summer Isles and Slaver’s Bay. As the fleet’s preparations began, Daemon learned that Otto Hightower’s agents were spying on him and decided to feed them false intelligence.

• Daemon welcomed Craghas Drahar and tasked him with improving the warships, training crews, and preparing the fleet to patrol the Narrow Sea within three months.
• Colin Celtigar reported that King Gorne’s Ironborn had harassed Jhala, and Daemon ordered Craghas to patrol the eastern Narrow Sea and drive off their ships.
• Bethany of House Hightower asked Craghas about Daemon’s Dragon Mark, while Alys Rivers warned Daemon that he had chosen to step into the firelight before leaving with Bethany.
• Daemon told Craghas to take Tall Trees Town and use Racallio’s influence to expand through the Summer Isles before blockading Slaver’s Bay and supporting slave uprisings.
• Ellyn Beesbury and Maester Maron plotted to extract Daemon’s plans from Craghas, but Shadow Guards reported them, and Daemon ordered that they receive false intelligence about the navy’s purpose.
• Craghas began drafting a warship improvement proposal as Dragon’s Roost Port’s craftsmen and recruits prepared the fleet for its planned expedition.

Craghas Drahar oversaw warship repairs and naval landing drills at Dragon's Roost Port, then fed false Summer Isles intelligence to Ellyn Beesbury and Maester Maron, who were secretly being used to mislead Otto Hightower. After Daemon summoned him over unusual Ironborn raiding-fleet movements, Craghas hurried to the council hall as a new confrontation approached.

• Craghas Drahar reviewed the fleet's damage and revised Little Horas's ship-steering plans, ordering the main fast ships repaired within three days.
• Craghas and Lyonel Corbray organized two thousand recruits for boarding-assault training.
• Ellyn Beesbury and Maester Maron offered Craghas gold and trading help in hopes of learning Daemon's plans, while Shadow Guards secretly recorded them.
• Craghas accepted their offer and supplied false intelligence about the Summer Isles, and a Shadow Guard reported that they had taken the bait.
• Craghas ordered the gold dragons used to improve the sailors' meals, then received Daemon's summons to discuss Gorne Greyjoy's unusual raiding-fleet movements.

Daemon prepared Dragon's Roost Port for a campaign to conquer the Summer Isles while responding to Gorne Greyjoy's suspected slave-trading alliance with Yunkai. The chapter ended with Colin's squadron sailing to intercept Gorne's ships and Daemon planning to launch his larger expedition in three months.

• Craghas joined Daemon, Larys Strong, and Rayford Rosby at a council where they reviewed Otto Hightower's false intelligence and the port's supplies for the expedition.
• Daemon ordered more heavy ballistae and catapults for the warships after Rayford reported the port's food, water, and weapon preparations.
• After Jarman Waters reported Gorne Greyjoy's fleet was moving between the Summer Isles and Slaver's Bay, Craghas recommended an interception, and Daemon sent Colin with five fast ships to capture Gorne's men and gather evidence against him.
• Daemon and Gael inspected the port's farms, training grounds, and naval base, where Craghas directed sailors through boarding drills.
• Colin's five ships sailed from Dragon's Roost Port toward the Stepstones and Summer Sea as Daemon ordered preparations to continue for the expedition in three months.
• Ellyn Beesbury and Maester Maron sent another report to Otto's messenger, while Bethany Hightower studied Valyrian texts and Alys Rivers watched Daemon from the medical station.

Colin Celtigar ambushed an Ironborn slave convoy near the Stepstones and discovered that the Ironborn were abducting people from across Westeros to sell in Slaver's Bay. After capturing the ships and gathering evidence of House Harlaw's dealings with Yunkai, he sailed for Dragon's Roost Port to report to Prince Daemon.

• Colin Celtigar led five fast ships through the reefs to ambush four heavily loaded Ironborn slave ships.
• Colin's fleet disabled the enemy ships and captured them, rescuing around two hundred Westerosi abducted from regions including the Riverlands, the North, and the Westerlands.
• A rescued noble from House Banefort told Colin that the Ironborn had secretly seized people along Westeros's coasts and planned to sell them in Slaver's Bay.
• A Westerlands merchant identified the captured shipowner as a man of House Harlaw with ties to Gorne Greyjoy, and the shipowner revealed a slave deal with Yunkai and a secret resupply point in the Summer Isles.
• Colin recorded the intelligence and ordered his fleet to return to Dragon's Roost Port with the prisoners and rescued slaves so Prince Daemon could receive the evidence.

Colin Celtigar returned to Dragon's Roost Port with rescued Westerosi captives and evidence that the Ironborn were building a slave-trading route through the Summer Isles with Slaver's Bay. Daemon Blackfyre ordered preparations for an earlier expedition to rescue captives and destroy the Ironborn supply point.

• Colin Celtigar's fleet arrived at Dragon's Roost Port with four captured slave ships and more than two hundred rescued captives.
• The captives told Daemon that the Ironborn had abducted people across Westeros and established a supply point in the Summer Isles to ship slaves to Slaver's Bay.
• Daemon ordered the captives treated, offered willing survivors a place in the marine corps, and arranged safe passage home for those who wished to leave.
• Daemon brought forward the Summer Isles expedition and assigned Rayford, Rupert, Berna, Lyonel, and Crahas to accelerate supplies, training, and route planning.
• Gael told Daemon the rescued captives were receiving medical care, while Crahas began marking the Ironborn supply point as the expedition's primary target.

Daemon prepared a fleet of thirty warships for an expedition to the Summer Isles, where he planned to destroy an Ironborn supply station and exploit rivalries among the island tribes. After leaving Gael and Rupert to protect Dragon's Roost Port, he sailed south with the fleet.

• Craghas and Alyn inspected the fleet's equipment while Daemon and Gael discussed the port's defenses and the dangers of his expedition.
• An Ironborn captive named Spike revealed the supply station at Red Flower Vale on Jhala and described the rivalries between the Summer Isles' tribes.
• Daemon decided to ally with forces on Walano and Sweet Lotus Vale against the Xho tribe and the Ironborn station, then ordered Spike to chart the islands and routes.
• Daemon and his council planned a landing at Red Flower Vale, assigned fleet and defense commands, and prepared for possible interference from Otto Hightower.
• Gael saw Daemon off after a tender farewell, and Daemon led the thirty warships out of Dragon's Roost Port toward the Narrow Sea.

Daemon led his fleet to Walano, where he formed a trade alliance with Prince Marcus and agreed to destroy the Xho tribe’s Ironborn-backed base. After defeating Cregan Xho and signing a trade agreement, Daemon began the voyage back to Dragon's Roost Port, expecting a stronger Ironborn response.

• Daemon sailed through the Stepstones and Summer Sea, using Spike’s intelligence to avoid the dangerous Singing Islands and reach Lotus Port.
• Prince Marcus agreed to a permanent trade alliance with Daemon if he helped eliminate the Xho tribe, and Karim provided intelligence, guides, and two hundred archers.
• Crahas planned the assault on Red Flower Vale, and Daemon ordered the fleet to attack after three days of preparation.
• Colin Celtigar blockaded the harbor while Lyonel Corbray and the Walano archers attacked overland, defeating Cregan Xho’s forces and destroying the Ironborn supply base.
• Daemon and Karim signed a trade agreement, and Daemon freed Spike and rewarded him for his intelligence.
• After celebrating with Prince Marcus, Daemon ordered a five-day rest before the fleet sailed back toward Dragon's Roost Port with Summer Isles goods and new military support.

Gorne Greyjoy faced mounting pressure from Ironborn kin to retaliate against Daemon Blackfyre, whose forces had killed their people and disrupted their trade. He sent Aeron Harlaw to King's Landing to accuse Daemon and seek the Iron Throne's intervention, while he and Theomore Harlaw prepared for the possibility of war.

• The Mother of Bloodtooth and Coren condemned Gorne for enduring Daemon Blackfyre's attacks and described the losses suffered by their kin and fleets.
• Theomore Harlaw urged Gorne to act, warning that Daemon's destruction of the Ironborn's Summer Isles trade route threatened their wealth and could provoke rebellion.
• Facing demands for retaliation, Gorne decided to send Aeron Harlaw to King's Landing to accuse Daemon and ask the king and ministers to restore their trade routes.
• Theomore agreed to prepare Aeron's mission, and Gorne chose gifts for the king and ministers, including Summer Isles gemstones, Slaver's Bay spices, and dragon-patterned daggers.
• Aeron sailed for King's Landing, while Gorne and Theomore acknowledged that the mission was a delaying tactic and discussed joining Slaver's Bay and the Triarchy if the Iron Throne failed to act.

Aeron Harlaw accused Daemon Blackfyre of attacking the Ironborn without authorization, but Corlys Velaryon and Larys Strong exposed the Ironborn’s slave trading and abductions. Jaehaerys’s authorization and the evidence turned the Small Council against Aeron, who fled after Otto Hightower demanded the Ironborn be destroyed.

• Aeron Harlaw entered the Small Council chamber and accused Daemon Blackfyre of attacking Ironborn ships and raiding a Summer Isles station.
• Corlys Velaryon presented a slave register and testified that Daemon had freed abducted people from Ironborn slave ships.
• Otto Hightower argued that Daemon had acted unlawfully, but Lyonel Strong and Corlys confirmed that Jaehaerys had authorized the expedition.
• Larys Strong presented testimonies, routes, letters, and a noble’s emblem documenting Ironborn slave trading and plans for further abductions.
• Otto denounced Aeron and called for the Ironborn to be exterminated, while Jaehaerys remained silent and signaled his support.
• Aeron left the Red Keep in disgrace after Otto ordered him to tell Gorne Greyjoy to expect Daemon’s dragonfire and the Joint Fleet.

Larys Strong presented survivor testimony and Daemon Blackfyre’s evidence of Ironborn crimes to the royal court, persuading Jaehaerys to authorize a campaign against the Iron Islands and recognize Daemon’s Summer Isles alliance. As Daemon’s fleet sailed toward Westeros, Gorne Greyjoy waited in ignorance of the royal decree ordering the Ironborn’s eradication.

• Otto Hightower denounced Aeron Harlaw, and Larys Strong brought Arnold, Ila, and Tom before the court to testify about Ironborn raids and enslavement.
• Grand Maester Alar read Daemon Blackfyre’s memorial and indictment, which documented the Ironborn’s crimes and confirmed his alliance with Prince Marcus of Walano.
• Corlys Velaryon, Bartimos Celtigar, Otto Hightower, and Baelon supported military action, and Jaehaerys authorized Daemon to lead the Joint Fleet against the Ironborn and ordered envoys to the Summer Isles.
• Jaehaerys stripped Gorne Greyjoy of his titles, ordered his surrender or death, and assigned Corlys Velaryon, Bartimos Celtigar, Lyonel Strong, and Otto Hightower their respective duties.
• Daemon told Crahas that he would attack the Iron Islands after reaching Dragon's Roost Port, while Gorne Greyjoy and Theomore Harlaw awaited news in Pyke without knowing the royal decision.

Jaehaerys’s Small Council chose Daemon Targaryen to lead the Joint Fleet’s blockade of the Iron Islands after rejecting other proposed commanders. Daemon flew Caraxes toward the Riverlands as the Royal Fleet sailed, while Gorne Greyjoy remained unaware that the campaign was closing in.

• Grand Maester Alar presented Daemon Blackfyre’s request for a campaign against the Ironborn, and Jaehaerys asked the council to choose a commander.
• Otto Hightower proposed Viserys, but Viserys declined, and Lyonel Strong argued that he should remain in King’s Landing.
• Corlys Velaryon proposed that Daemon Targaryen command the Royal Fleet and coordinate a broad blockade, and Daemon volunteered for the mission.
• Jaehaerys named Daemon vanguard commander and assigned the council members to organize the fleet, supplies, orders, and aid for freed captives.
• Daemon flew Caraxes toward the Riverlands while the Royal Fleet departed King’s Landing Harbor, and Baelon and Viserys stayed behind to oversee the realm’s affairs.
• Gorne Greyjoy waited on Pyke without knowing that the Targaryen-led fleet was preparing to encircle the Iron Islands.

Daemon Blackfyre returned to Bloodstone Island, where he reflected with Crahas on the island’s transformation and met Vaemond Velaryon, who was leading the Royal Fleet toward the Riverlands. Daemon sailed for Dragon's Roost Port, aware that new political and military challenges awaited him.

• Daemon surveyed Bloodstone Island’s rebuilding and spoke with Crahas about the island’s bloody past and Crahas’s change of allegiance.
• A Royal Fleet of at least eighty galleys arrived under Vaemond Velaryon, who was sailing to join Prince Daemon Targaryen’s campaign against the Iron Islands.
• Daemon warned Vaemond about the Iron Fleet and urged him to counsel Big Daemon, while Vaemond praised Daemon’s recent victories and strategy.
• After resupplying and handing over Corlys Velaryon’s trade agreement, Daemon and Crahas departed Bloodstone Island for Dragon's Roost Port.
• Several days later, Daemon saw Dragon's Roost Port ahead and anticipated the challenges awaiting him there.

Daemon returned to Dragon's Roost Port after the Summer Isles expedition and inspected the castle rising in his domain with Gael and his followers. As construction plans advanced and Otto Hightower's plotting came to light, Daemon prepared to answer the Iron Throne's summons for the campaign against the Iron Islands.

• Daemon arrived at Dragon's Roost Port, reunited with Gael, and heard Rayford report the harvest, shipbuilding, recruitment, and castle construction progress.
• Daemon thanked his followers for the Summer Isles expedition and ordered them to rest before preparing for the Iron Islands campaign.
• Daemon and Gael toured the castle site, where Daemon revised its plans for dragon space, a secret passage, a medical station, stronger defenses, and a moat.
• Glutton and Grey Ghost came to the castle site, while Jarman Waters told Daemon that Ellyn Beesbury and Maester Maron were spying and Otto Hightower was exchanging more letters with House Hightower.
• Daemon allowed harmless misinformation to reach Otto and said he would show his power when he returned to King's Landing for the campaign against the Ironborn.
• Alys Rivers gave Daemon a restorative draught, Bethany requested copies of the Talking Tree runes, and Daemon received a report confirming Crown Prince Baelon's summons and the approaching campaign.