Chapter Summaries

After Rhaenyra gave birth to twins, Redd felt a new sense of responsibility toward his children. He refused Viserys’s offer to place dragon eggs in their cradles, insisting he had better dragons for them, and remained with the sleeping babies after the others left.

• Redd watched his newborn twins and felt responsible for keeping them safe, while Rhaenyra thanked him.
• Viserys and Alicent visited Rhaenyra and the twins, bringing gifts, and Viserys granted each child land and an annuity.
• After Rhaenyra fell asleep, Alicent suggested choosing a dragon egg for each baby, and Viserys enthusiastically agreed.
• Redd refused the dragon eggs, saying he would give his children adult dragons to tame when they were older.
• Viserys accepted Redd’s decision but offered to let him choose eggs later, then left with Alicent.
• Redd stayed beside the cradles with two maids and watched his sleeping children.

Queen Alicent gave birth to a son, forcing Viserys to confront the threat the prince posed to Rhaenyra’s succession. Viserys named the child Aegon, and the news stirred quiet maneuvering across the Seven Kingdoms.

• After Rhaenyra’s delivery, Alicent went into labor while Viserys waited anxiously outside the birthing chamber.
• Viserys feared that a son would give the lords grounds to challenge Rhaenyra and prayed that Alicent would have a girl.
• Alicent safely gave birth to a boy, and Viserys felt joy, fear, guilt, and weariness at the news.
• Viserys named the prince Aegon at Alicent’s request.
• Word of Prince Aegon’s birth spread, and the realm’s powers began secretly making plans around Rhaenyra’s succession.

After Alicent gave birth to Aegon, Redd weighed the threat to Rhaenyra’s succession and told Mysaria to watch Viserys’s response. When Mysaria returned to Rhaenyra’s chambers, she overheard Ser Cole confessing his feelings and insulting Redd.

• Mysaria told Rhaenyra that Alicent had given birth, and Rhaenyra stayed composed while holding Jaehaerys and Visenya.
• Mysaria informed Redd of Aegon’s birth, and he said he would wait to see whether Viserys kept Rhaenyra as heir.
• Redd told Mysaria that Alicent depended on him and ordered her to report any developments involving Rhaenyra immediately.
• Mysaria returned to Rhaenyra’s chambers and overheard Ser Cole confessing his love and claiming Redd had manipulated Rhaenyra.

Mysaria overheard Criston Cole confessing his feelings for Rhaenyra and learned that he knew about Redd’s activities in the underground Dragonpit. Rhaenyra stopped Cole from killing Mysaria and asked her to keep the secret from Redd, leaving Mysaria frightened by the danger and uncertainty ahead.

• Criston Cole held a sword to Mysaria’s throat after she overheard him confessing his feelings for Rhaenyra and mentioning Redd and the underground Dragonpit.
• Rhaenyra ordered Cole to lower his sword and asked Mysaria how much she had heard.
• Mysaria said she had heard from Harrenhal onward and promised she would not tell Redd.
• Cole insisted Mysaria had to die, but Rhaenyra threatened to summon the guards and accuse him of trying to assassinate her.
• Cole left, and Rhaenyra returned to her room after Mysaria promised to treat the incident as though it had never happened.
• Mysaria remained alone in the corridor, fearing what Redd might do if he discovered the secret and wondering how long she could hide it.

Mysaria told Redd that Criston Cole had confessed his love to Rhaenyra and threatened her after she overheard them. Redd decided to confront Rhaenyra, and the chapter ended as he entered her bedchamber.

• Mysaria hurried to Redd and reported Cole's confession, his accusation that Redd was using Rhaenyra, and his threat against her.
• Redd told Mysaria she had done the right thing by informing him and hinted that he would test Cole's nerve.
• Redd embraced and teased Mysaria before taking her to Rhaenyra's bedchamber.
• Redd entered without knocking, and Rhaenyra recognized his arrival by the footsteps and opening door.

Rhaenyra told Redd how Criston Cole had confessed his love and threatened Mysaria, and Redd demanded that she decide how to deal with him. Rhaenyra asked for time to make Cole leave King's Landing, promising he would never return.

• Redd arrived with Mysaria, sent the maids away, and listened as Rhaenyra recounted her history with Criston Cole.
• Rhaenyra explained that Cole had confessed his love, insulted Redd, and tried to kill Mysaria before she stopped him.
• Redd questioned why Rhaenyra had not called for help sooner and warned that Cole's loyalty had become dangerous obsession.
• Redd gave Rhaenyra the choice to make Cole leave King's Landing or let Redd handle him.
• Rhaenyra asked for time to speak with Cole and promised to make him leave for good.

Redd confronted Criston Cole over his feelings for Rhaenyra and punished him instead of killing him. Cole was left kneeling in agony, bleeding from a wound that destroyed his ability to feel anything in his lower body.

• Redd gave Rhaenyra three days to make Criston Cole leave King's Landing, then told Mysaria to wait for him that night.
• Rhaenyra cried after Redd left, and Mysaria took her hand as the two women sat together in silence.
• Criston Cole reflected on his five years protecting Rhaenyra and accepted that he had lost her and might have to leave or die.
• Redd entered Cole's room and recounted how Cole had served Rhaenyra before confessing his love for her.
• Redd said death would be too easy and struck Cole with his sword, leaving him kneeling and bleeding from a devastating wound.

Redd castrated Criston Cole and threatened him into silence before leaving him in the White Sword Tower. The Kingsguard found Cole badly wounded, while Harrold Westerling suspected Redd was responsible and chose to wait before reporting the attack.

• Redd castrated Cole, ordered him to leave King's Landing with Rhaenyra the next morning, and threatened him against speaking or looking at her.
• Cole blamed Viserys and Rhaenyra for his fate but feared Redd too much to hate him.
• Cole's screams woke the Kingsguard, and Harrold Westerling found him bleeding on the floor of his bedchamber.
• Harrold stopped the others from moving Cole and suspected Redd had attacked him.
• Harrold declined to report the attack to Viserys until Cole could speak, while the maester treated Cole's wounds.

After Cole was brutally injured, Rhaenyra dismissed him from the Kingsguard and banished him from King's Landing. Redd then warned Rhaenyra that her position as Heir Apparent depended on her conduct, leaving her chastened and uneasy.

• Harrold Westerling ordered the Kingsguard not to discuss Cole's attack and said they would wait to hear Cole's account.
• Rhaenyra told Cole he was no longer a Kingsguard and must leave King's Landing, and Cole gave her a final knight's salute before departing.
• Redd told Rhaenyra he did not care about her past relationship with Cole but forbade anything like it from happening again.
• Redd warned Rhaenyra that he could make her Heir Apparent or remove her from the position, and she said she understood.

Redd left Rhaenyra in King's Landing and flew King Ghidorah toward the Stepstones to confront Daemon and the Triarchy. He found Douglas's fleet trapped in a fierce battle against a larger Lyseni force near Lys.

• Redd told Rhaenyra he was leaving to deal with Daemon and the Triarchy, and she stayed behind to care for their children.
• Redd went to the Dragonpit, mounted King Ghidorah, and set out for the Stepstones.
• Redd's forces had positioned Douglas's navy among the reefs between Lys and the Stepstones, while ground troops waited near Pentos and Volantis.
• Redd spotted the Lyseni fleet attacking Douglas's ships near Lys, with the Lyseni using their greater numbers to encircle them.
• Douglas's flagship, the Dragonhead, was damaged as his fleet fought while withdrawing toward the reefs.

Redd ordered King Ghidorah to destroy the Lysene fleet, and the dragon annihilated more than thirty warships in minutes. Douglas watched the attack and realized how formidable Redd must be if King Ghidorah acted like his pet.

• Redd identified the Lysene ships and told King Ghidorah to keep the attack quiet.
• King Ghidorah used Gravity Beams and its wings to destroy the Lysene fleet, leaving wreckage and survivors in the sea.
• Redd ordered King Ghidorah to leave, and the dragon climbed away as Douglas's sailors watched in awe.
• Douglas recognized King Ghidorah and recalled how it had behaved like a lazy pet around Redd.
• Douglas trembled as he remembered accepting jewels from the Lysenes and considering whether to abandon Redd.

Douglas hurried his fleet after Redd and prepared to prove his loyalty when they reached the Stepstones. After Redd landed with King Ghidorah, Douglas prostrated himself and swore unwavering allegiance.

• Douglas ordered his sailors to raise the sails and pursue Redd as quickly as possible.
• Redd let King Ghidorah slow enough for Douglas’s fleet to keep them in sight, but not catch up.
• Douglas warned his sailors to behave and hurriedly checked his appearance as the fleet neared the Stepstones.
• Redd landed King Ghidorah on the main island, where his attendants and guards were waiting.
• Douglas ran to Redd, fell to the ground before him, and swore an oath of unwavering loyalty.

Redd praised Douglas for preserving his fleet, learned that Mynander had refused to surrender after meeting with Daemon, and ordered the fleet to sail for Lys. After landing on Bloodstone Island, Redd claimed the Stepstones and sent Douglas to secure the islands and interrogate Daemon’s men.

• Redd reassured Douglas that he had done well and asked about the situation in Lys.
• Douglas reported that Mynander had detained Redd’s messenger and prepared to attack after Daemon arrived and met with him.
• Redd learned that Daemon’s whereabouts were unknown and ordered the fleet to rest in the Stepstones before sailing for Lys the next morning.
• Redd found Bloodstone Island’s docks deserted and declared that the Stepstones belonged to him.
• Redd ordered Douglas to sweep Bloodstone Island and Grey Gallows Island, spare ordinary people, and capture Daemon’s men for questioning.

Three days earlier, Redd sent Douglas to search Bloodstone Island for Daemon and his men. Douglas learned that Daemon had taken the island’s garrison and ships to Lys with several mysterious black-robed figures, leaving him eager to report the news to Redd.

• Redd watched Douglas lead soldiers into the village and explained that Douglas was trying to make amends for the Lys fleet affair.
• Douglas questioned villagers and learned that Daemon had left for Lys three days earlier with the garrison and every available ship.
• An elderly village head told Douglas that Daemon had met with three or four black-robed figures in a stone house before sailing toward Lys.
• The village head relayed Daemon’s warning that the Stepstones were his territory and he would settle the score when he returned.
• Douglas ordered his men to continue searching and headed toward the island’s stone house, pleased to have information for Redd.

Douglas reported that Daemon had taken the defenders of the Stepstones to Lys with several mysterious black-robed men, and Redd suspected the Citadel was involved. Redd decided to leave for Lys the next morning and deal with the Citadel afterward.

• Douglas returned to Redd and described Daemon’s departure for Lys with the island’s defenders and three or four black-robed men.
• Redd praised Douglas’s search and asked whether he had learned more about the strangers, but Douglas had no further information.
• Redd concluded that the black-robed men were the key to Daemon and Mynander’s plans and suspected they came from the Citadel.
• Redd ordered that they leave for Lys the next morning and go to Oldtown after dealing with Daemon and Mynander.

Douglas and Redd sailed from Bloodstone Island toward Lys, following clues about Daemon and the black-robed men. An unnatural fog swallowed the fleet, and Redd descended with King Ghidorah to investigate.

• Douglas inspected the fleet and news from Grey Gallows Island before ordering his ships to sail for Lys at dawn.
• Redd and King Ghidorah flew above Douglas's fleet as it followed the coast through favorable weather and thin mist.
• The mist rapidly thickened until Douglas ordered the ships to slow down, hold formation, and communicate by horn while staying on alert.
• Redd noticed King Ghidorah was uneasy as the fog concealed the fleet, then signaled the dragon to descend.

Redd recognized the unnatural fog as a likely Citadel trap and watched from above while Douglas's fleet advanced through it. Beneath the ships, fishmen began climbing aboard as huge sea creatures gathered to attack the fleet.

• Redd halted King Ghidorah above the fog and suspected the Citadel had targeted him with it.
• Redd chose to wait and observe while King Ghidorah circled over the fog-bound sea.
• Douglas's fleet moved slowly through the dense fog, unaware of the danger gathering underwater.
• A fishman leader tested a ship's hull with a bone spear, then ordered the fishmen to climb aboard from above.
• Fishmen scaled the fleet's hulls as whales, deep-sea hunters, and giant turtles rose from the depths and charged the ships.

Fishmen attacked Douglas’s flagship and the surrounding warships from beneath the fog, overwhelming the crews as they climbed aboard. Douglas organized a shield-and-spear defense, but the deck battle grew brutal and his sailors were being killed.

• Impacts from beneath the ships shook the fleet, and Douglas ordered the sailors to prepare for whatever was attacking.
• Fishmen climbed over the gunwales, and Douglas ordered the crossbowmen to shoot.
• The crossbowmen wounded a Fishman, but it pulled out the bolts and more Fishmen swarmed onto the deck.
• A Fishman killed a sailor, and Douglas ordered his troops to form ranks with shields and spears.
• Fishmen flanked the soldiers and fought across the deck, killing sailors despite their resistance.

Douglas’s fleet struggled against fishmen and enormous sea creatures attacking through an unnatural fog until Redd sent King Ghidorah into the battle. King Ghidorah tore open the fog and began destroying the attackers while carefully avoiding the warships.

• Sea creatures rammed the warships as seawater flooded the lower hold, and Douglas ordered his remaining soldiers to hold their positions.
• Redd saw that an unnatural fog enclosed the fleet and spotted fishmen and sea creatures attacking the ships from below.
• Redd ordered King Ghidorah to descend and make some noise.
• King Ghidorah plunged through the fog, driving it aside and revealing the battlefield to the sailors and fishmen.
• King Ghidorah fired Gravity Beams into the sea, vaporizing fishmen and sea monsters without striking the fleet’s ships.

King Ghidorah routed the fishmen attacking the fleet, and Redd asked Douglas about the casualties before vowing to settle the score at Lys. Far away, Nissa felt the deaths of her kin through the sea as she watched the golden light.

• King Ghidorah annihilated fishmen in the water and drove the survivors into the deep sea.
• The fog dispersed, revealing the battered fleet and its wounded survivors as King Ghidorah descended.
• Redd asked Douglas about the casualties, comforted him, and said someone had sent the fishmen.
• Redd declared that they would settle the score when they reached Lys, and King Ghidorah roared toward the city.
• Nissa watched the golden light from a distant reef and felt her kin dying through the seawater.