Chapter Summaries

At the Kingsmoot on Old Wyk, Balon Greyjoy called the Ironborn to choose a king and promised raids despite the threat of dragons. A young, white-haired dwarf arrived with a crew, challenged the captains to say what they could offer him, and Balon recognized his silver hair and purple eyes.

• Ironborn captains gathered at Nagga's Hill, but the missing dragon captain stirred fears that the Kingsmoot was a trap.
• Balon Greyjoy urged the captains to climb Nagga's Hill and begin the Kingsmoot, and a priest declared that the Drowned God commanded it.
• Balon offered House Greyjoy's treasure and promised raids across the coasts, earning cheers from the captains.
• A dwarf arrived with a crew of sailors and pushed up to the hilltop, provoking anger from the captains and priests.
• The young candidate revealed white hair and purple eyes, asked what the captains could offer him, and made Balon look up at the darkened sky.

Baelon Targaryen revealed Vermithor at the Kingsmoot and offered the Ironborn dragons and new lands in exchange for their loyalty. The captains acclaimed him as king, but a Drowned God priest objected that Baelon lacked reverence for the god.

• Balon Greyjoy invited Baelon to sail with him after Baelon said he had no gifts to offer the captains.
• Baelon declared that he had come to become king and demanded the Ironborn obey his commands and let him choose their targets.
• Baelon summoned Vermithor, whose arrival shattered Nagga's Bones and terrified the captains and Ironborn below the hill.
• Baelon identified himself as the Prince of Dragonstone and promised the Ironborn dragon power and the chance to seize the world.
• Balon Greyjoy and most of the captains knelt and acclaimed Baelon, who announced that their first target would be the Stepstones.
• A Drowned God priest objected that Baelon had no reverence for the god and could not be chosen king.

Baelon challenged the priests of the Drowned God to stop him, then won the Ironborn captains’ allegiance and announced a feast before sailing to seize the Stepstones. In King's Landing, Viserys received Baelon’s letter confirming he was safe and learned Ser Mund Hightower was traveling to court with his younger sister.

• Baelon dared the Drowned God to demonstrate its power, and the sea stayed calm as the priests’ pleas went unanswered.
• Baelon declared the Ironborn could worship the Drowned God and proclaimed himself High King of the Iron Islands, while Gonsor Goodbrother and Balon Greyjoy affirmed him as their king.
• Dozens of priests filled their clothes with stones and walked into the sea as Baelon called the Ironborn to a feast and announced he would choose a first mate before sailing for the Stepstones.
• In King's Landing, Viserys read Baelon’s letter and breathed with relief that Baelon was safe.
• Viserys read the Hightower earl’s letter, which said Ser Mund Hightower had set out for King's Landing with his younger sister.

Baelon Targaryen became king of the Iron Islands and organized an Iron Fleet under Qhobot, while learning that the Ironborn valued strength over mercy. After Balon Greyjoy rejected Barren and Dalton as dishonored captives, Baelon took them aboard his ship; the fleet then sailed south, prompting Dorne to prepare to intercept it.

• At a feast, Baelon asked the Ironborn captains to report their ships and learned that their naval tactics centered on raiding and plundering.
• Baelon declared a new Iron Fleet with bronze dragon banners, ordered the captains not to raid within the Seven Kingdoms without permission, and appointed Qhobot to command the fleet.
• The captains offered Baelon Salt Wives, and he publicly returned Barren and Dalton to Balon Greyjoy, who rejected them as dishonored for having been captured alive.
• Baelon took Barren and Dalton aboard his ship and appointed Qhobot to lead the Iron Fleet, which sailed south with a dragon overhead.
• News of the fleet's departure spread across the Seven Kingdoms, and Prince Qoren Martell ordered Dorne to intercept and destroy it before it reached the Stepstones.

Baelon reflected on the Ironborn’s cruelty and his own complicity as he flew toward King’s Landing, while Rhaenyra learned that Viserys planned to marry Lady Alerie Hightower and confronted him about Alicent’s pregnancy. The chapter ended with Viserys shocked to discover that Alicent was with child.

• Baelon reassured Ser Harrold that Qhobot would be safe leading the Ironborn, then recalled freeing twenty-one abducted women and offering them support.
• Balon Greyjoy and Dalton Greyjoy challenged Baelon about his changed attitude toward the Ironborn, and Baelon explained that seeing the devastation at Fair Isle had changed him.
• Baelon acknowledged the bargain he had made with the Ironborn and flew Vermithor toward King’s Landing.
• Viserys asked Rhaenyra how she would feel if he married a new queen, then named Lady Alerie Hightower as his choice.
• Rhaenyra demanded to know what would happen to Alicent and told Viserys that Alicent was pregnant, leaving him stunned.

Baelon returned to King's Landing expecting the Small Council to have prepared for war in the Stepstones, but found them debating taxes to pay the Ironborn. He learned that the Iron Fleet had brought 180 ships, and Otto argued that the realm would need to fund them and prevent the crews from turning to piracy after the war.

• Viserys promised to grant Baelon the Iron Islands, and the Small Council dropped its debate over Baelon's Kingsmoot.
• Corlys Velaryon claimed command of the Stepstones fleet, while Daemon offered to command it and Otto argued against him because he rode a dragon.
• Baelon arrived in King's Landing and hurried to the Council Chamber, where he overheard Otto calling for taxes to fund the war.
• Baelon questioned the need for taxes, and Otto explained that the Iron Fleet's 180 ships would need payment and gifts to keep their crews from raiding after the war.

Baelon defended his Ironborn fleet and counseled against raising taxes as the Small Council prepared for war over the Stepstones. Viserys ordered the lords to make final preparations, then revealed he intended to marry Alerie Hightower, surprising Otto.

• Baelon assured the Small Council that the Iron Fleet would remain loyal and argued against raising taxes, while Corlys and Lyonel supported him.
• Daemon challenged Baelon over dragon power, and Baelon declared that Vermithor could not be matched, even by Balerion.
• Otto reported that Pentos had agreed to an alliance, the Second Sons were heading to Storm's End, and other Free Cities remained hesitant.
• Larys warned that the Triarchy's divided leadership could weaken its fleet, and Viserys ordered the realm to set out after Aegon's celebration.
• Viserys asked Otto, Baelon, and Daemon to stay and announced that he would marry Alerie Hightower, leaving Otto shocked that he had not known.

Viserys’s decision to marry Alerie Hightower humiliates Otto, who has been kept unaware while negotiating with the Free Cities. Baelon offers Otto a chance to found a Hightower branch by promising him a city after Dorne is conquered, and Daemon erupts in anger.

• Viserys announced that he had settled his marriage agreement with Alerie Hightower, leaving Otto stunned that the king, Otto’s family, and his nephew had kept him in the dark.
• Daemon taunted Otto about House Hightower joining the Iron Throne, while Viserys dismissed the possibility that Otto might turn against the crown.
• Baelon tried to ease the confrontation and told Otto that war could offer him a path to advancement and a lasting legacy.
• Baelon promised Otto a city in Dorne if he secured alliances with Volantis and Qohor, so Otto could establish his own branch of House Hightower.
• Otto asked Viserys whether Baelon’s offer was genuine, and Daemon sprang up to condemn Baelon for courting Otto.

Viserys promised Otto a castle in Dorne and gold if he returned from the Free Cities with allies, provoking Daemon’s fury over being denied the glory of war. When Viserys agreed to let Daemon command part of the fleet, Baelon rejected the plan and insisted Corlys Velaryon lead the main fleet, leaving the Small Council divided on the eve of war.

• Otto pledged to travel to Volantis and Qohor to negotiate an alliance, and Viserys promised him a castle in Dorne and his weight in gold if he returned safely with powerful allies.
• After Otto left, Daemon threw down his plate and accused Viserys and Baelon of giving Otto the glory and rewards that should have been his.
• Daemon demanded command of the fleet, and Viserys agreed that Daemon could command part of it alongside Corlys Velaryon.
• Baelon objected that dividing the fleet would undermine the war effort and insisted that Corlys command the main fleet.
• Baelon told Daemon he could leave the war if he would not accept Corlys’s command.

Baelon admitted that fear of losing the Stepstones war had made him treat Otto with more care than Daemon, and he reconciled with his uncle. Daemon agreed to support the campaign, while a sighting of Vhagar ended the chapter.

• Daemon confronted Baelon over trusting Otto and neglecting him, prompting Baelon to realize he had taken Daemon's loyalty for granted.
• Baelon confessed that he feared hidden dangers and betrayal in the Stepstones war but had never feared Daemon would betray him.
• Daemon reassured Baelon that they would win and agreed to let Corlys command the fleet while he fought from Caraxes.
• Baelon offered Daemon a Valyrian steel sword as an apology, but Daemon refused it and recalled the childhood gifts they had exchanged.
• Three dragons appeared in the sunset, and Baelon recognized the largest as Vhagar.

Jason and Tyland Lannister prepared to compete for Rhaenyra’s hand at the upcoming tournament as three dragons announced the Velaryons’ arrival in King’s Landing. Baelon met Laena, who showed interest in Vermithor and asked him how he had tamed the dragon.

• Steward Allan inspected the tournament grounds as Jason and Tyland Lannister arrived and argued over their matching golden cloaks and hopes of winning Rhaenyra.
• Three dragons flew over the tournament grounds, and Jason resolved to win after seeing the Velaryons’ dragons.
• Baelon, Rhaenyra, and Daemon watched Vhagar, Meleys, and Seasmoke glide toward the Dragonpit.
• Rhaenys embraced Viserys in the Throne Room and introduced Laena to Baelon.
• Laena asked Baelon how he had tamed Vermithor, and Baelon was surprised that she seemed at ease with their political betrothal.

Baelon and Laena discussed their betrothal as the Velaryons and Targaryens considered a wedding, while Laenor accepted Daemon’s rebuke and vowed to prove himself. The chapter ended with Laenor asking to fight beside Daemon in the coming Stepstones war.

• Baelon agreed to spend time with Laena, and Daemon bluntly rejected Laenor’s request to be knighted after the tournament.
• Baelon took Laena to meet Vermithor, while Corlys and Viserys discussed marrying Laena to Baelon when he was older.
• Laenor left to find Daemon, and Rhaenyra hurried after him, worried that a confrontation could threaten the family alliance.
• Baelon and Laena discussed their betrothal in a carriage, and Laena firmly declared that she would honor her promise.
• Laenor acknowledged Daemon’s rebuke, committed to competing in the tournament, and offered to fight beside him in the Stepstones war.

Baelon and Laena agreed to honor their political marriage and discussed the growing threat in the Stepstones. At the Dragonpit, Laena introduced Baelon to Vhagar and asked how the old dragon compared with Vermithor.

• Laena explained that her marriage to Baelon united House Velaryon and House Targaryen, and they promised to respect and support one another.
• Laena told Baelon that she had surveyed the Stepstones on Vhagar and described the Crabfeeder's attacks and the pirates' hiding places.
• Baelon said the Iron Fleet's fast ships were suited to fighting in the Stepstones' narrow bays.
• Laena spoke openly about having children with Baelon, then said she would wait until the right time.
• Laena brought Baelon to Vhagar, and they placed their hands on the dragon's snout together.
• Laena asked Baelon how Vhagar compared with Vermithor.

Baelon encountered a chained golden dragon in the Dragonpit that seemed to recognize him, while Laenor’s courteous reunion with Daemon turned into a bitter confrontation. Laenor left resolved to strike Daemon’s shield at the tourney in two days.

• Vhagar blocked Laena as a golden dragon dragged its chains out of the walls and approached; Baelon realized he might have named the dragon despite never having visited the Dragonpit.
• Daemon insulted Laenor, who angrily challenged him and accused him of abusing him over rumors about his love life.
• Rhaenyra intervened and asked Daemon to stop, and Daemon left after telling Laenor he would wait for him to strike his shield.
• Laenor decided to shatter Daemon’s shield with his lance at the upcoming tourney and reclaim his dignity.

A small gold dragon charged Vhagar in the Dragonpit, then flew to Baelon and eagerly bowed its head for him. As Baelon reached out to it, Vermithor plunged down in fury while Vhagar prepared to unleash her fire.

• Vhagar threatened the gold dragon, and Laena calmed her before leading her toward the Bronze Gate.
• The gold dragon took flight and attacked Vhagar, prompting Baelon to flee and call for Vermithor.
• The gold dragon left Vhagar and flew toward Baelon, who met its gaze and approached it.
• The gold dragon landed before Baelon, breathed fire into the air, and lowered its head eagerly toward him.
• Vermithor roared and dove toward the Dragonpit as Vhagar turned with fire glowing in her throat.

Baelon escaped Vhagar’s dragonfire with the Dragonkeepers while Vermithor broke through the Dragonpit dome and shielded everyone. After Gold Dragon affectionately nuzzled Baelon, Vermithor reacted jealously and began to glow with fire in his throat.

• Baelon ordered Vermithor to break through the dome, then led the Dragonkeepers into a passage as Vhagar threatened them.
• Gold Dragon attacked Vhagar, drawing her dragonfire, but escaped beneath the dome while a Dragonkeeper carried Baelon to safety.
• Laena reached Vhagar and struck her nose with a whip, ordering her to stop.
• Vermithor crashed through the dome and shielded the Dragonkeepers, and Baelon ordered them to remain in the passage.
• Gold Dragon landed before Baelon and nuzzled his hand, prompting Vermithor to narrow his eyes and glow with fire in his throat.