Inside besieged Godsgrace, Geleria, Perrin, Caitrin, Laurent, Michael, and Galayn argue over crumbling walls, dwindling options, surrender, night attacks, and communication with Rhodry, until Caitrin and Geleria propose murdering Daeron under a truce banner, a plan Perrin and Michael resist but Laurent supports, leading to a decision to send word to Rhodry while tearing down empty houses to reinforce the walls.
Before Godsgrace, Daeron and Alyn Velaryon brief Luthor Rivers, Elmer Crakehall, and Burton Crakehall on an apparently abandoned riverside village seen from Oakenfist's ship, ordering them to investigate whether plague, evacuation, or a gathering Dornish host emptied it and to bring back supplies if possible.
Outside the Sunspear throne room, Marence hesitates over whether to commit Dorne's spears and risk the hostages in King's Landing, but after counsel from Elysa and his guards and provocation from Rhodry, he enters court and orders Rhodry to lead all but five hundred spears west to join the armies near Godsgrace.
Westerosi cavalry near Yronwood are ambushed from the marshes by Dornish riders under Michael Speardancer, Dread Daven Wyl, Edric Blackcrown, Laurent Dalt, and others; Sarmion and Tancred break Speardancer and Fowler, Dagur hammers Blackcrown, Symeon defeats Daven and checks Laurent, and the Dornish withdraw into the marsh under hard pressure rather than suffer a full rout.
A bout of drinking to pass the time turns into the formation of an unlikely alliance.
The Dornish army turns to face the chasing royal force at a vital oasis, the source of the river Scourge
The Young Dragon considers charming Ser Jarwen for an important task, securing a watering place when the army marches through the desert.
King Daeron requires knights to help locate the Dornish army, which has been keeping its position obscure.
At the siege camp before Yronwood, a bloodied Tomas Rivers returns with a reduced foraging party and a wagon of food after meeting Dornish resistance, prompting King Daeron to summon him for a report on where the attack came from before the planned move toward Godsgrace.
The previous day's unexpected tidings prove to be hopeful indeed, once more information arrives at Sunspear.
Unexpected tidings from the Planky Town causes confusion and then hope in Sunspear.
The Sand Dog sorties out of Yronwood, breaking out of the siege despite the efforts of the king's men to stop them.
The king's army reaches Yronwood, expecting to lift the siege ... and discovering to their surprise that the Dornishmen have seized the castle before he could arrive.
Concerned with the state of the situation about Yronwood, King Daeron consults certain knights.
A rising flood gives King Daeron an unexpected -- and dangerous -- opportunity to force a desperate crossing.