Chapter Summaries

Danyla and the Reach Army captured Kingsgrave after the Great Dragons overwhelmed its defenses and swept through the city. With the survivors imprisoned and the dead gathered at Manwoody Castle, Danyla led her brothers in a chant over the fallen.

• Rafa destroyed the wall defenses while Myracis, Urrax, and Digral attacked defenders and ambushes inside Kingsgrave.
• Earl Tarly ordered Reach troops to occupy the walls and enter the city, where they collected the untouched military supplies.
• Myracis and the young dragons cleared streets of resistance, suffering arrow wounds that Ophiral later tended on Urrax.
• The Reach Army subdued Kingsgrave in little more than half a day, imprisoned the surviving women and children, and sealed tunnels and concealed entrances.
• The Reach Army leveled buildings to create a dragonstone detention camp and gathered the Dornish dead and damaged weapons in Manwoody Castle's square.
• Danyla led the surviving brothers in a devout chant over the gathered corpses.

After Fiona found the Dornish hiding in caves near Kingsgrave, Earl Tarly led an army to attack them with help from Danyla and the dragons. Rafa's devastating fire engulfed much of the mountain where the Dornish were hiding.

• Rafa burned most of the Dornish corpses and weapons during the Funeral Rite, while Myracis and the other dragons devoured the remains.
• Earl Tarly secured Kingsgrave and strengthened its walls while Danyla had Rafa forge dragonstone defenses.
• Fiona tracked livestock activity to a guarded cave hideout southeast of Kingsgrave and reported the discovery to Earl Tarly.
• Earl Tarly led ten thousand soldiers toward the hideout as Fiona, Danyla, and the dragons scouted the mountain forests.
• At Danyla's command, Urrax, Digral, and Ophiral attacked the Dornish guards and herders, alerting the people deeper in the mountains.
• Rafa descended from above the clouds and engulfed nearly half the mountaintop in dragonfire.

Danyla and her dragons destroyed the Dornish refuge in the Red Mountains, turning House Manwoody’s mountain hideout into a bloodstone-lava dragonpit. The Reach and Stormlands armies then hunted down the remaining Dornish, clearing the mountains within half a month.

• Rafa’s dragonfire poured into the caves where Earl Manwoody, his family, and thousands of Dornish were hiding, burning and burying them along with their livestock and treasures.
• As Danyla chanted, Rafa’s scales darkened and his fire melted the mountain while his roars and wingbeats spread the blaze through the surrounding forests.
• After three days of fire, Rafa rested in a huge crater-like dragonpit amid solidified metals and magical energy, while Myracis and Urrax searched for survivors and carcasses.
• Earl Tarly withdrew his men, and the Reach Army later joined the Stormlands army at Wyl to search the Red Mountains for Dornish survivors.
• With help from Fiona, Dorea Sand, and other wargs, the allied armies wiped out the remaining Dornish and Mountain Clans in less than half a month.
• Markris sold many Dornish captives into slavery, while the women and children were sent to the Stepstones and Cisland.

Danyla ordered the assault on Skyreach, where Rafa’s dragonfire devastated House Fowler’s fortress and killed thousands. As Myracis attacked a tower, Harmen Uller fired a dragonbone arrow at her eye.

• Danyla sent Earl Tarly and Lord Swann to leave two thousand men sweeping the Red Mountains and march the rest of their forces on Skyreach.
• Danyla received Jaehaerys’s warning that the Three Daughters Kingdom had allied with Volantis to seize the Stepstones, along with Margaery Tyrell’s letter about Vaegon’s daughters and a quiet training yard.
• Five days later, Danyla arrived at Skyreach with the combined Reach and Stormlands army and the dragons.
• Rafa unleashed dragonfire on Skyreach, melting much of the fortress, destroying House Fowler’s main keep, and killing thousands of Dornish people.
• Harmen Uller hid in an archery tower with a dragonbone longbow and shot an arrow at Myracis’s eye as she attacked the tower.

Danyla’s dragons devastated Skyreach, killing its defenders and forcing the city’s surrender before the Reach and Stormlands armies entered. Danyla’s forces divided House Fowler’s wealth, seized prisoners and supplies, and burned the dead to empower the dragons and produce false Valyrian steel.

• Myracis destroyed Harman’s Western Arrow Tower, killed him and its defenders, and then continued attacking Dornish soldiers and ballistae.
• Rafa crashed into Forrester Castle and unleashed powerful dragonfire as the other dragons ravaged Skyreach.
• After the dragons lowered Skyreach’s northern gate, the armies of the Reach and Stormlands entered and overcame the remaining defenders.
• Lord Swann took more than two thousand Dornish prisoners to Yronwood for sale, while Danyla sent many captured residents to the Stepstones and placed several hundred children with the Unsullied.
• Danyla and her allies divided House Fowler’s riches, seized warhorses and supplies, and burned the fallen Dornish, strengthening the dragons’ magic and producing false Valyrian steel.

After taking Skyreach, Danyla rejected an immediate advance into the Dornish desert and focused on consolidating the occupied lands through reconstruction, settlement, and trade. The chapter ended with Skyreach’s surroundings beginning to flourish and Danyla’s control over regional commerce tightening through her tariff policies.

• Danyla told the Stormlands and Reach lords to pause their advance and prioritize controlling the Honeywine basin and consolidating their victories.
• Danyla inspected the captives at Skyreach as guards forced them to rebuild amid harsh treatment and fear of the great dragons.
• Danyla used runes to draw fire energy toward Skyreach, where a rebuilt dragonstone wall helped bring regular storms and renewed greenery to parts of Dorne.
• Danyla opened occupied territories to settlers with free homes, land, education, and medical care, while investing nearly ten million gold dragons in new settlements.
• Danyla established military farmland south of Skyreach and encouraged merchant routes through Wyl and Yronwood.
• Danyla imposed steep tariffs on foreign goods passing through the Stepstones, prompting resentment from the Free Cities and reluctant compromises.

Danyla continued settling and fortifying occupied Dorne while planning to seize High Hermitage’s mountain-pass fortress after a supply train left the castle. She flew out with Rhaenyra to support Ser Roxton’s attack, concealing her condition beneath a loose dress.

• Danyla’s forces developed occupied Dorne, bringing in settlers, building infrastructure, and worsening the Dornish shortages through raids and blockade.
• The Prince of Dorne sent messages seeking advice and prepared gifts for negotiations with King Jaehaerys after the lords realized the danger they faced.
• A warg watching High Hermitage reported that a train of mountain horses carrying supplies had entered the Red Mountains, prompting Danyla to order Ser Roxton to act.
• Danyla told Ser Roxton that he and Mungo would lead two thousand Eyriehold soldiers against High Hermitage’s fortress while Rouge’s forces besieged Starfall, High Hermitage, and Blackmont.
• Danyla rode Myracis toward High Hermitage with Rhaenyra on Syrax and five young dragons, and Rhaenyra asked why Danyla was not wearing armor.

Danyla and Rhaenyra led their dragons in an assault on High Hermitage's fortress, then set out to destroy a convoy heading toward it. The convoy scattered into the Red Mountains, but the dragons attacked its soldiers and left the packhorses unharmed.

• Danyla redirected Rhaenyra's attention as they flew toward High Hermitage's fortress with the young dragons following.
• Danyla and Rhaenyra blasted open the fortress gate while the young dragons attacked its defenders and destroyed the giant crossbows.
• Mungo and Ser Roxton arrived with the Eyrie Castle Garrison, occupied the fortress, and took its prisoners and supplies.
• Danyla and Rhaenyra forged Dragonstone to repair the fortress and made a new gate reinforced with Bronze Runes.
• The sisters flew toward High Hermitage the next morning and encountered a mountain convoy whose leader ordered his men to scatter into the woods.
• Myracis, Syrax, and the young dragons charged the scattered convoy, killing soldiers while leaving the packhorses unharmed.

Danyla’s forces besieged Starfall, High Hermitage, and Blackmont after the dragons destroyed a Dornish caravan. Rhaenyra examined the recovered sword Dawn, while Danyla considered the fate of House Dayne and the other Honeywine houses.

• Mungo and Ser Roxton arrived after Urrax and the other young dragons had killed the High Hermitage caravan, and Mungo’s men recovered its horses and supplies.
• Rouge’s Oldtown Garrison and Holy Flame Fleet seized the docks of Starfall, High Hermitage, and Blackmont, then surrounded their castles and demanded surrender.
• Danyla held back from attacking the three houses as their forces faced the dragons and the loss of their elite troops in the Red Mountains.
• Rhaenyra examined Dawn, which Ser Roxton’s men had found after Joffrey Dayne died at the Battle of the Prince’s Pass.
• Rhaenyra suggested taking the Honeywine houses’ lands, but Danyla asked whether she wanted a castle, and Rhaenyra said she preferred the freedom of a princess and dragonrider.

Danyla and Rhaenyra traveled to Starfall to return Dawn and win House Dayne’s allegiance, but Earl Dayne remained reluctant to serve the royal house. Lady Dayne proposed a marriage alliance, and Danyla dismissed the possibility of matching Alysanne with any suitable Targaryen man, leaving Allyrion disappointed.

• Danyla told Rhaenyra she hoped to earn the allegiance of the Honeywine houses and use their influence to help govern Dorne.
• Danyla and Rhaenyra arrived at Starfall on their dragons, and Rhaenyra vowed to face any danger beside her sister.
• Danyla secretly branded her Palm Fire Seed into Starfall’s weirwood before meeting Earl Dayne and returning Dawn to him.
• At the feast, Earl Dayne promised not to oppose the royal house but refused to pledge himself to Danyla’s service.
• Lady Dayne proposed a marriage alliance, and Danyla said there was no suitable Targaryen man for Alysanne; Allyrion overheard and felt his hopes fade.

Danyla and Rhaenyra rejected House Dayne’s attempt to secure peace through a royal betrothal and watched the Dayne youths compete to choose the next Sword of the Morning. Their discussion of House Dayne’s violet eyes and ancestral sword Dawn suggested a possible shared ancestry with the Valyrians, a theory that visibly unsettled Earl Dayne.

• Lady Dayne offered a betrothal with the royal house in exchange for House Dayne’s help restoring peace in Dorne, but Rhaenyra refused to be coerced.
• Danyla challenged Earl Dayne’s remarks about women and proposed that House Dayne choose a new wielder of Dawn before the princesses.
• Earl Dayne agreed, and the young men of House Dayne began an elimination tournament in Starfall’s training yard.
• Danyla pointed out that many Daynes had violet eyes and pale hair, then speculated that House Dayne and the Valyrians descended from an ancient imperial family of Yi Ti.
• Rhaenyra linked the theory to the histories of the Valyrians and House Dayne, while Earl Dayne listened in growing agitation and tried to conceal his reaction.

The chapter recounts Valyria’s rise from a people living beside the Fourteen Flames to a dragon-riding slave empire, then describes its destruction and the legacy that survived. It leaves Valyrian blood and influence enduring through House Targaryen, the Faceless Men, and the successor powers of Essos.

• Daemon discovered three dragon eggs in a cavern beneath the Fourteen Flames, and Visenya won the young dragons’ acceptance with her blood.
• The Valyrians used dragons to conquer the Ghiscari Empire and devastate the Rhoynar, while Queen Nymeria led survivors to Dorne.
• The Valyrian noble houses built a slave empire, practiced blood magic, and ruled from a magnificent Valyria City as revolts grew in the mines.
• Daenys foresaw Valyria’s doom, and Aenar led House Targaryen west to Dragonstone before the Fourteen Flames erupted and destroyed the city.
• After Valyria fell, the Faceless Men, Volantis, the cities of Slaver’s Bay, and House Targaryen carried forward parts of its legacy.

Six contenders competed for the chance to become the next Sword of the Morning, while Danyla and Rhaenyra watched and teased House Dayne. Garth defeated Orryn, and Roland and Edric’s fierce bout continued with Roland wounded but still fighting.

• Starfall's chief steward introduced Garth Dayne, Orryn Sarwyck, Roland Dayne, Mara Dayne, Arthur Dayne, and Edric Dayne as the six contenders.
• Danyla and Rhaenyra mocked the steward’s praise and discussed House Dayne’s silver-haired, purple-eyed relatives, offending Alysanne.
• Garth Dayne defeated Orryn Sarwyck after countering Orryn’s poisoned short-blade attack and placing his greatsword at Orryn’s throat.
• Roland Dayne and Edric Dayne fought for nearly an hour, trading attacks as the spectators cheered.
• Edric feinted and cut Roland’s arm, but Roland rallied and continued attacking with his twin swords.

Roland Dayne defeated Edric with a chain sword and hidden dagger, and Arthur Dayne overcame Mara using his greatsword and her corset. Garth, Roland, and Arthur remained in the arena as Rhaenyra and Danyla teased each other about which fighter they wanted to win.

• Roland used a chain sword and a hidden dagger to defeat Edric, while Danyla defended his unorthodox techniques and Rhaenyra teased her about admiring him.
• Mara attacked Arthur with twin Valyrian steel short swords and a weighted corset belt, but Arthur disarmed her and won their duel.
• The chief steward announced Arthur's victory, leaving Garth, Roland, and Arthur as the final three fighters.
• Rhaenyra asked Danyla which fighter she wanted to win, and Danyla turned the question back on her.

Arthur, Garth, and Roland fought in the final contest to decide House Dayne’s new Sword of the Morning. Arthur defeated Garth and was declared the winner after driving Startrail toward Roland’s chest.

• Danyla suggested that Rhaenyra choose House Dayne fighters to serve at her side, and Rhaenyra wondered whether they would be loyal.
• Garth, Roland, and Arthur began the three-way contest, and Arthur’s powerful Scorpion Tail Thrust forced both rivals to defend.
• Garth and Roland teamed up against Arthur, but Arthur wounded Garth’s calf and knocked him out of the contest.
• Arthur gained the upper hand against Roland and thrust Startrail toward his chest before Starfall’s chief steward stopped the fight and declared Arthur the winner.

Arthur Dayne became the new Dawn Sword after Rhaenyra approved the result of his duel with Roland. Danyla took Roland as her Sworn Warrior, and Rhaenyra invited the wounded Garth to serve her as well.

• Starfall's High Seneschal announced Arthur's victory before Arthur could kill Roland, and Rhaenyra and Earl Dayne confirmed Arthur as the new Dawn Sword.
• Danyla and Rhaenyra presented Dawn to Arthur at Earl Dayne's invitation.
• Danyla offered Roland the role of Sworn Warrior, and Roland swore loyalty to her and House Targaryen.
• Danyla invoked dragonfire, setting Roland's twin blades ablaze and prompting the Dornish to hail her as the Eternal Sun.
• Rhaenyra invited the wounded Garth Dayne to become her Sworn Warrior, and Garth immediately knelt before her.

Danyla and Rhaenyra recruited Dayne knights at Starfall, then continued the campaign in the Honeywine basin. Blackmont surrendered before Danyla’s deadline, while High Iron City prepared to resist.

• Danyla recruited Arthur Dayne as her Sworn Warrior, while Rhaenyra recruited Allyrion after Garth Dayne had sworn to her.
• Edric of High Hermitage and Mara grew resentful after the princesses overlooked them.
• Danyla and Rhaenyra left Starfall for the Holy Flame Fleet and assigned their four new Sworn Warriors to the army besieging High Hermitage.
• Danyla demanded that Blackmont and High Hermitage swear allegiance and surrender their castles and lands, threatening to destroy High Hermitage if it refused by the deadline.
• Blackmont’s allies failed to rally the Honeywine houses, and Earl Blackmont surrendered to Danyla at sunset.
• High Iron City rejected the terms and mobilized its soldiers and inhabitants to fight the Holy Flame army the next morning.

A sudden storm flooded House Qorgyle’s refuge and disrupted the planned battle, while Danyla and Rhaenyra used the darkness to launch a devastating dragon attack on High Hermitage. They left the town in ruins and flew away after confirming that resistance had ended.

• A storm flooded House Qorgyle’s underground refuge, forcing its people and livestock to flee.
• The Earl of High Hermitage celebrated the storm, believing it would hinder the Holy Flame Fleet.
• Danyla and Rhaenyra flew Myracis and Syrax through the storm to attack High Hermitage by surprise.
• Myracis and Syrax destroyed the town’s walls and set its streets ablaze while Urrax and the other young dragons attacked below.
• Rhaenyra burned down the castle gates and brought down a tower as the nobles fled in panic.
• After confirming that no resistance remained, Danyla, Rhaenyra, and the others departed, leaving High Hermitage in ruins.

Danyla’s forces took High Hermitage, gathered its spoils and prisoners, and distributed supplies to the commoners before she used the victory to secure House Dayne and House Blackmont’s allegiance. After rebuilding the city and reorganizing its lands, she made Ser Roxton its earl, leaving King Jaehaerys stunned when the appointment reached him.

• Mungo, Garth, Roland, Arthur, and Allyrion led three thousand Oldtown Garrison troops into High Hermitage after the dragons broke its defenses, and the troops collected prisoners and spoils with little resistance.
• Danyla ordered supplies distributed to High Hermitage’s commoners and held a Funeral Rite with Rhaenyra for the thousands killed in the attack.
• Danyla kept Edric’s Valyrian steel sword Dark Star and gave Mara’s reforged short swords, Dragon Tooth, to Rhaenyra, while Roland and Arthur received reforged swords of their own.
• Rhaenyra spoke of exploring Essos and Sothoryos, and Danyla told her to improve her swordsmanship before expecting permission to travel alone.
• After High Hermitage was rebuilt, House Dayne and House Blackmont swore allegiance to Danyla; she kept Starfall under House Dayne but took control of its docks and assigned House Blackmont’s lands to her own administrators.
• Danyla granted High Hermitage to Ser Roxton and formally invested him as its earl on King Jaehaerys’s behalf, and King Jaehaerys froze when the Small Council presented the documents.

Danyla persuaded House Blackmont to accept Sandstone and helped its forces capture the domain after heavy rains forced House Qorgyle from its underground shelters. The sisters began building roads, oases, fortresses, and docks to secure Sandstone and its trade.

• Danyla explained how canals, roads, and coastal forts would make Sandstone valuable, and the Earl of Blackmont accepted the domain.
• Danyla ordered House Dayne and House Blackmont to form a Conquest Army while she and her sister built a Dragonstone Avenue through the desert.
• Heavy rains created new oases beside the road, convincing the Earl of Blackmont and the Earl of Dayne that Danyla's plans could succeed.
• Danyla and her sister attacked House Qorgyle after floodwaters drove its troops from their underground caverns, and the dragons destroyed the resisting force.
• The Earl of Blackmont occupied Sandstone and captured its inhabitants as Danyla and Rhaenyra helped the Holy Flame Fleet build coastal fortresses and docks.