A leopard, a falling star, a dead man, a cockatrice, a burning woman, a vulture and three lemons dance the cautious courtly dance of establishing names and ties and status, and discussing the bindings of family.
Lord Aryard Manwoody’s morning practice is interrupted by Lilah Gargalen, and a brief lesson in small blades occurs; words, and blades, are then traded between Ser Darion and Ser Valerin as they show their mettle.
A planned weapons lesson for Lilah Gargalen from Ser Valerin Dayne goes astray with the arrival of Selara Dalt, and the three trade words and opinions.
Caitrin tells Rhodry that Ariana wants Cadan restored to office, draws out Rhodry's ambition for command as Keeper of the Sandship, and offers to insinuate herself near Cadan and Joleta so Rhodry can learn what his brother may be plotting.
Joleta urges Marence to consider her cousin Armand for a future embassy to King's Landing, warns that a Coran Wyl match for Ariana could inflame Westeros and the Boneway, and asks that her son Devin be legitimized as heir to Salt Shore if her marriage to Ethos is annulled.
Joleta returns to Sunspear with Salt Shore's alarm over Lord Wyl's treatment of King Baelor, prompting Marence, Ariana, Michael Speardancer, Perros, and the court to debate whether to notify King's Landing, send men toward the Boneway, use Wyl kin as envoys, or risk provoking another Dornish war.
As Sunspear rushes to prepare for war against Yronwood, Ariana finds Marence during a rare quiet moment, urges him not to hurry recklessly into danger, and asks to learn more of statecraft when he returns.
During a respite from Baelor's negotiations in Sunspear, Galwell Dalt asks Marence to name him Lord Treasurer; Marence weighs his skill, contacts, and rivals, then offers him the interim office of Lord Bailiff with the promise that success there can make him treasurer when the current officeholder retires.
The Reachlords and Riverlords are trapped between a force in front of them and a force behind when they reach the Dornish keep of Salt Shore.
After Daeron's death and the sack of the Tor by disorderly Stormlands forces, Rhodry Martell leads Dornish cavalry through opened gates to retake the town, with Speardancer driving toward the harbor while Rhodry, Jarvis, and others cut down looters; Elmer and Burton Crakehall rally a desperate defense and wound several foes, but Rhodry defeats both Crakehalls, Hew dies covering the retreat, and the survivors escape through alleys to Oakenfist's departing ships.
Daeron's dream of conquest ends in blood spilled on the sands of Dorne.
Disguised in Dornish clothing, Ethos and his uncle Jarmyn infiltrate the sleeping Dornish camp to avenge Yonel Storm by murdering Lord Davit Gargalen; Ethos cuts Davit's throat, Jarmyn sacrifices himself fighting the alerted guards, and Ethos escapes alone, claiming to the waiting Mertyns men that the lord of Salt Shore now rides before them.
At the siege of Godsgrace, a badly wounded Symeon watches Daeron's great trebuchet hurl a stone that collapses part of the wall; the delighted king names the engine Balerion and offers a purse for a better name, while Symeon advises on siege tactics and is checked by Daeron after nearly challenging a mocking courtier despite his injuries.
The alliance between Ser Burton and Ser Luthor grows as Ser Alek Reyne is taken into the fold.
Luthor, Elmer, Burton, and Blayne investigate the plague-marked abandoned village, discover that villagers were butchered and piled in a cottage rather than killed by plague, trap armed survivors in the holdfast overnight, and the next morning identify them as Bright Banners deserters before killing or capturing them, recovering forage, and returning toward the king's camp.