Recaps

Darean survived an attack on his new lands, awakened more of the Book of Strange Script’s magic, and persuaded Marwyn to become his maester. As New Land Village began to grow, House Hightower offered major aid tied to its plans against House Redwyne, while Darean questioned who would control the settlement and challenged Guncer.

• Darean led his settlers to the ruined village, repelled a pirate attack with the Force of Sharpness, and executed the captured attackers.
• Darean used Garth Greenhand's Gift to awaken a Valyrian Purple Queen seed, winning Marwyn’s agreement to leave the Citadel and serve as his maester.
• Darean defeated Aemon Cuy in a duel at Oldtown’s south gate and returned to his fief with Marwyn.
• Darean established New Land Village, permitted trade, and received an objective from the Book of Strange Script to collect twenty-five thousand jin of grain.
• Darean reviewed Baelor Hightower’s offer with Clyson and Marwyn, then requested limited aid to avoid surrendering control of his fief.
• Baelor told Darean that House Hightower would provide a hundred thousand gold dragons, guards, and supplies so he could build a castle and harbor to challenge House Redwyne’s trade.
• Darean learned that Guncer had gained command over part of House Hightower’s guard and arranged ancient materials to win Earl Leyton’s favor.
• Darean found Guncer sparring in the training yard and challenged him to a match with wooden swords.

Darean strengthened New Land Town while House Hightower’s return to magic brought necromancy and attacks by the dead to Oldtown. As Garth’s forces were overwhelmed and Baelor warned of the danger, Darean rode to Three Towers to seek support.

• Darean secured five hundred guards and construction supplies from Baelor and Garth, then began building up New Land Town.
• Darean’s food shipment fulfilled the Book of Strange Script’s requirement and unleashed a tide of magic that expanded his reservoir and reached the Wall’s arrays.
• Darean welcomed Gerold Hightower’s troops and the Faith’s envoys, then discovered that holy water had gained a magical fatigue-dispelling effect.
• Darean began the castle’s foundation ceremony as Margaery Tyrell traveled to his domain, and he later tried to hide the settlement’s iron production from her.
• Baelor found Leyton in the tower and saw blood on his robe, while the disappearance of Hightower family members led Baelor to warn Darean against Leyton’s summons.
• Darean and Marwyn kept their forces in place as Garth’s warehouse garrison fought attackers whose victims became undead.
• Garth’s men encountered the undead Dawn Hightower and hundreds of hidden corpses, and Garth escaped gravely wounded with only eight companions.
• Darean left Gerold to guard New Land Town and rode with two hundred men to Three Towers, where Earl Tommen Costayne took him to a private room.