Beslon the Bad, infamous scoundrel and sellsword, meets a fitting end: betrayed by his own men for coin.
After establishing a siege of Vaith, several days pass with the Dornishmen and the sellswords staring at one another and occasionally trading arrows and bolts. Eventually, the Dornishmen offer to parley, and offers and counter-offers are made.
The forces led by Ser Laurent Dalt and Ser Baduin Santagar to liberate Vaith from the king's forces meet the notorious sellsword company, the Bright Banners, under the command of Beslon the Bad. A bloody battle ensues.
The Prince of Dorne announces a momentous decision, and calls upon his gathered court to advise him. Tensions run high before a plan is made.
Prince Rhodry, annoyed at his brother's refusal to act precipitously, suggests he's prepared to do something about it..
In Sunspear's courtyard, Caitrin, Elysa, and Lysanne press or counsel Prince Marence as Dorne burns, with Caitrin urging resistance to the Targaryen yoke, Lysanne grieving for hostage children, Elysa warning against blind anger, and Marence insisting that Dorne must either find a real path to victory or accept peace rather than die out of spite.
In a hot Sunspear courtyard after Blackmont's fall, Prince Marence consoles Caitrin Blackmont, discusses Aegon's possible seizure of Blackmont, Garvys Tyrell's campaign and trade relief, and hears Caitrin suggest a temporary pillow-house tax before Marence sends her to rest and prepares for an audience with Meros Tyrell.
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.