Chapter Summaries

Daemon Blackfyre delegated the defense and administration of the Crab Claw Peninsula to its lords before setting out for King's Landing and the campaign against the Iron Islands. He departed with his followers as Gael stayed behind, while Otto Hightower prepared for the coming council and fleet sailed toward the capital.

• Daemon assigned Earl Crabb to oversee the peninsula, giving its other lords responsibility for security, supplies, farming, trade, and the docks.
• Daemon warned the lords to resist Otto Hightower’s influence, keep training troops, and prepare ships and provisions for the Iron Islands campaign.
• Daemon’s followers assembled to depart, while Gael and her guards prepared to remain in King's Landing and manage affairs there.
• Daemon took Glutton toward King's Landing as the fleet under Crahas, Alyn, Little Horas, and Colin set sail for the capital.
• King Jaehaerys and Crown Prince Baelon awaited Daemon in the Red Keep, while Otto Hightower watched from the shadows beside Viserys.

Daemon's company traveled toward King's Landing, stopping in Maidenpool and Rosby for warm reunions with their families. As Daemon prepared to face the Iron Islands campaign and Otto's schemes, Jarman decided to visit Lady Ala after the war.

• Jona Mooton and Lady Freyana welcomed Daemon's company near Maidenpool, where Myles reunited with his half brother and promised to serve Daemon well.
• As the company passed Staghorn Castle, Jarman said he had no family there, but his companions teased him about Lady Ala and the eyepatch she had sewn for him.
• At Rosby, Rayford reunited with his father, Gyles, and Isabella, while Isabella encouraged Jarman to visit Lady Ala after the war.
• Daemon accepted the Earl of Rosby's hospitality, ordered the troops to camp outside town, and learned from Gyles that Otto Hightower was still plotting with the Reach.
• Jarman told Myles he intended to visit Lady Ala after the Iron Islands campaign, while Bethany Hightower and Colin Celtigar anticipated seeing their families in King's Landing.
• Daemon resolved to confront Otto and pursue the Iron Islands campaign as his company prepared to leave for King's Landing the next morning.

Daemon Blackfyre rode toward King's Landing as elders praised his ambition, and he wrestled with whether his growing desire for power threatened the family he cherished. He resolved to pursue his goals while protecting his loved ones and arrived over the Red Keep, ready to face the struggles ahead.

• The Earl of Rosby praised Daemon's resolve and ambition as greater than those of legendary Targaryens, and Daemon continued toward King's Landing.
• Daemon mounted Glutton and flew toward King's Landing with Dreamfyre, while Lyonel Corbray led the party to join the fleet at Blackwater Bay.
• Daemon remembered Earl Simon Staunton's earlier welcome, warnings about King's Landing, and prediction that Daemon's future would outshine Jaehaerys's.
• Flying above King's Landing, Daemon considered his ambitions, his knowledge of future disasters, and his desire to protect his family; he decided that ambition and family loyalty could coexist.
• Daemon descended toward the Red Keep on Glutton with Dreamfyre beside him, as the city's people watched and he prepared for the coming political and military challenges.

Daemon returned to King's Landing with Glutton and reunited with his Targaryen family, including Gael, whose health was improving. As preparations continued for war against the Iron Islands, he ended the day resolved to protect his family while pursuing his ambitions.

• Daemon landed at the Red Keep on Glutton and was welcomed by Jaehaerys, Alysanne, Baelon, Viserys, Rhaenys, Jocelyn, and their families.
• Daemon discussed the coming campaign against the Iron Islands and outlined how Craghas Drahar, Lyonel Corbray, Lubert Crabb, Jarman Waters, and Larys Strong would assist him.
• Gael arrived in King's Landing, embraced Daemon, and told him that Alys Rivers expected her health to improve enough for her to safely have a child after another year of treatment.
• Daemon distributed gifts from Dragon's Roost Port and the Summer Isles, then reported on the port's docks, rye harvest, and growing warship fleet during the family feast.
• Daemon accompanied Gael to her room, then went to a Red Keep terrace and resolved to protect his family and lead the campaign against the Iron Islands.

Daemon and the royal council finalized a three-pronged campaign to crush Gorne Greyjoy and the Ironborn, coordinating armies and fleets from the east, north, and south. The plan was threatened when Medgar Tully marched his vanguard toward Seagard ahead of schedule, and the council ordered him stopped before he could disrupt the allied assault.

• Daemon, Baelon, and Corlys reviewed the naval plan to leave an escape route and trap any Ironborn who fled west toward the Reach.
• Jaehaerys convened the lords’ representatives, and Daemon outlined the eastern, northern, and southern allied armies’ deployments against the Iron Islands.
• The Vale, North, Stormlands, Westerlands, Reach, and Riverlands representatives reported their troops and ships, while Elmo Tully warned that Grover Tully was too ill to lead.
• A messenger reported that Medgar Tully had taken three thousand Riverlands troops toward Seagard early, prompting Daemon to urge that Earl Lymond Mallister stop him.
• Jaehaerys ordered Baelon to send a dragonrider to the Riverlands, assigned Viserys and Corlys their logistical and fleet duties, and directed Daemon to deal with Medgar once the allies assembled.

Daemon finalized preparations for the campaign against the Iron Islands, coordinated the allied forces, and entrusted Gael’s safety to his followers before departing. He rode with Budimir to the intelligence room, where plans tied to the war and the Summer Isles were about to unfold.

• Daemon warned Tyland Lannister not to advance independently and arranged for Lyonel Corbray to watch over Garlan Redwyne.
• Daemon received Jaehaerys’s counsel and Alysanne’s antidotes, then told Gael he would leave for war in three days.
• Daemon rallied his followers and oversaw three days of preparations for the campaign against the Ironborn.
• Before departing, Daemon ordered Mysaria, Johanna, Brienne, and Lia to guard Gael and carefully screen anyone approaching her.
• Daemon left Gael’s chambers with Budimir and rode to the intelligence room in the Red Keep.

Daemon gathered his followers to reveal a secret plan to lure Gorne Greyjoy’s Ironborn remnants west to the Summer Isles, then conquer the islands under the pretext of eliminating a maritime threat. The allied armies were set to march in three days, while the Three Sisters’ fleet would secretly track Gorne’s escape.

• Daemon entered his intelligence office, where his followers had gathered around a map of the Iron Islands and the Summer Isles.
• Larys Strong explained that the allied armies would attack from the east, north, and south while leaving the western waters open to force Gorne Greyjoy to flee.
• The Marquess Sunderland and Bartimos Celtigar described the Summer Isles’ resources, divided tribes, and vulnerability to the Ironborn remnants.
• Daemon revealed that he planned to lead an expedition against Gorne and use the campaign to conquer the Summer Isles and establish a strategic overseas base.
• The Three Sisters agreed to track Gorne’s fleet, and Daemon ordered the allied armies to march in three days and keep the plan secret.

Daemon led the eastern allied army out of King's Landing toward the Riverlands to put down the Iron Islands rebellion, while dragons and the royal family saw them off. The army continued along the Kingsroad as its fleets advanced toward the designated waters, and Gael remained behind waiting for Daemon's return.

• King Jaehaerys ordered Daemon to lead the allied army to Pyke, and Queen Alysanne gave him a newly prepared antidote pouch.
• Viserys and Leonno Strong arranged the army's provisions and supply points, while Larys joined their carriage to assist with logistics.
• Daemon commanded the army to march, and Glutton and Grey Ghost flew ahead as the troops departed through the Gate of the Gods.
• Jarman Waters reported that the fleets had joined Lord Corlys and were expected to reach their designated waters in three days, while Lyonel Corbray asked about Medgar Tully's vanguard.
• Daemon continued toward the Riverlands as Gael watched him leave and promised to wait for his return.