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.
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.