Corlys, Rhaenyra and Baela mourn Rhaenys's death. Criston parades Meleys's head through King's Landing, though the near-starving smallfolk take it as a bad omen. Aegon has survived, comatose and severely burned, with Sunfyre near death; Criston withholds from Alicent what truly happened at the battle. Considering how to fill the void on Aegon's council, the Greens reject Alicent's bid to be regent and elect Aemond, wanting a male dragonrider on the throne; he orders the city gates shut, preventing the blacksmith Hugh Hammer and his family from fleeing. Daemon dreams of incest with his mother, who calls him her favorite son, and declares he will be king once a large army is raised; he enlists Lord Willem Blackwood to help persuade the Brackens to bend the knee, ordering the Blackwoods to ravage them into fealty, and Alys criticizes his ruthlessness as the riverlords denounce the atrocities.
On a rogue mission to strike a deal at the Twins, Jace obtains the Freys' allegiance in exchange for Harrenhal. Jeyne Arryn tells Rhaena she is disappointed to have received two hatchlings rather than a mature dragon, and Elinda is sent to King's Landing as a spy and agitator. Rhaenyra laments having no riders for Vermithor and Silverwing, the only dragons large enough to challenge Vhagar; Jace suggests searching the noble houses for Valyrian descendants.