Having entered the kingswood on King Daeron's command to find and put an end to the Starveling and his band of outlaws, Ser Sarmion and Ser Dagur lead the company into the depths of the forest at the direction of a Wendwater knight. At the suspected area, a trap is devised to attempt to lure out a group of bandits.
Aidan meets Reyna and her young son Andrys while visiting the goldsmiths, and their polite walk turns to guarded confidences about Reyna's pregnancy, Aidan's sister Alia and her child at Starfall, and why so many Dornish hostages remain unmarried.
After sept service, Aidan searches for his missing squire Danyll while court conversation moves from charity and marriage to wedding preparations, Braavosi visitors, Myrish wine, news from Starfall, and Cadan's invitation to a Free Cities entertainment.
After an archery drinking game is dispersed, Aidan speaks with Blayne, Trebor, and Aurana about northern habits, bandits in the Kingswood, and his own safety as a Dornish hostage before Reyna's arrival promises music and companionship in the Old Keep.
Mavros Uller visits Reyna and Dagur to argue that Jossart Vaith should be restored as heir to undercut rebellion at Vaith, then proposes that Lord Ganlos Qorgyle's spears help secure the Prince's Pass against Andrey Blackmont, leaving the Saltcliffes to carry Sandstone's case to Garvys Tyrell.
As royal stewards and Free Cities merchants display costly goods for the coming wedding, Aidan, Tanyth, Valeria, Harstyn, and Rosalind talk over silks, court clothing, Myrish green wine, missing Bucklers in the Kingswood, and the awkward social lives of Dornish hostages.
During an impromptu gathering in the Old Keep, tensions run high as Mavros Uller encounters one of the more outspoken Dornish hostages, Valeria Blackmont.
Garwen Smallwood's curiosity about the Dornish hostages turns into a cordial meeting with Aidan Dayne, who dispels some rumors, discusses dragon peppers and Dornish cuisine, and accepts the idea of a shared Dornish and Riverlands meal.
The small council questions Dagur about the recent city violence and, satisfied by his blunt assessment of the City Watch's failures, Daeron offers him command of the gold cloaks.
At a guild-sponsored joust meant to calm King's Landing after the riots, Daeron rides before a tense crowd, Lormon Buckler nearly attacks Raynard Locke over his missing son, and Dagur Saltcliffe wins the final prize by unhorsing the king before carrying Reyna from the Tyrell box.
While recovering from the riot, Aidan leaves archery practice and helps Urston Coldwater demonstrate the strengths and limits of the high guard to City Watch trainees, earning the newly made knight's respect.
The conclusion of the Dornish Bread Riot, as King Daeron personally leads a force to mercilessly crush the rioters following the failure of the City Watch to contain and control the problem.
Daeron visits the injured Joleta after the Baker's Square riot, but his apology and assurances of restored order sour when Joleta argues that anti-Dornish noble rhetoric has taught the smallfolk to attack the king's hostages.
Several Dornish hostages travel to the Bakers' Square following the rumor of buying bread that's just like home. But something goes wrong, very wrong.
Aidan encounters Blayne Condon after an unfriendly visit to a cobbler, receives awkward congratulations for sharing the tourney prize with Prince Aemon, walks with him toward the Three Hills Inn, and cautiously asks after rumors about Cassella's childbed.