Contents
DAENERYS — Chapter 31
Overview
Daenerys confronts a tightening naval blockade and refuses to unleash her dragons. News confirms Astapor’s collapse and a deadly plague, sending refugees toward Meereen. Amid counsel splits over siege versus battle, she summons her sellswords, aids refugees outside the walls, and seeks to buy foes’ loyalty.
Realizing she cannot fight enemies within and without, Daenerys concludes she must marry Hizdahr zo Loraq to unite Meereen and secure fragile peace before facing Yunkai’s host.
Summary
From Meereen’s ramparts, Daenerys tallies blockade sails as Admiral Groleo proves unhelpful, urging dragonfire she refuses to use. Ser Barristan reports modest stability, but Skahaz presses suspicions that Hizdahr leads the Sons of the Harpy; Daenerys forbids torture and rejects seizing noble hostages, burning a list of enemy-linked captains. The city grows fearful.
Galazza Galare and the Blue Graces arrive with Grey Worm to report a dying rider from Astapor, bleeding from the bowels—the “pale mare” plague. Fearing Yunkai’s advance, Daenerys recalls her companies, dreading Daario’s fate. Brown Ben Plumm returns with three Astapori survivors, who recount starvation, civil collapse, Cleon’s corpse-led folly, Ghiscari legions storming the city, mass slaughter, fires, and the bloody flux. More refugees are coming, driven by enemy sellswords.
Debate erupts: Reznak urges marrying Hizdahr to make peace; Brown Ben wants dragons or paid withdrawal; Daenerys refuses to loose dragons or abandon Meereen. She orders the Second Sons to scout and attempt to buy off enemy companies, closes the gates, and establishes a riverside camp for refugees, sending food but keeping the plague outside the walls.
On the terrace, Ser Barristan warns that Meereen cannot endure siege: freedmen are unblooded, sellswords fickle, dragons uncontrollable, and enemies lurk within. He counsels battle on chosen ground. Daenerys prays for guidance, then decides she cannot fight two enemies at once and concludes she needs Hizdahr zo Loraq—accepting marriage to unite the city before confronting Yunkai.
Who Appears
- Daenerys TargaryenQueen of Meereen; resists using dragons, confronts Astapor’s fall and plague, organizes defenses, aids refugees outside, and decides to wed Hizdahr for unity.
- Ser Barristan SelmyCounsels prudence and open battle over siege; updates Daenerys on provisions and orphans; supports keeping plague outside Meereen.
- Skahaz mo Kandaq (the Shavepate)Distrusts Hizdahr; urges harsher measures and hostage-taking; opposes open-field battle and fears internal betrayal.
- Reznak mo ReznakSeneschal urging immediate marriage to Hizdahr and barring sick refugees from the city.
- Brown Ben PlummCaptain of the Second Sons; brings Astapori survivors; advocates using dragons or selling Meereen; tasked to scout and bribe enemy companies.
- Grey WormCommander of the Unsullied; reports the dying rider; vouches for freedmen’s readiness and supports quarantining refugees.
- Galazza Galare (Green Grace)Warns Daenerys of plague as divine wrath; brings Blue Graces to relay the Astapori omen.
- Ezzara (Blue Grace)Identifies the dying rider’s bloody flux, signaling the ‘pale mare’ plague.
- Hizdahr zo LoraqBetrothed noble under suspicion; visits pyramids; Daenerys chooses to marry him to unify the city.
- GroleoAdmiral urging dragonfire against the blockade; offers little practical aid.
- Astapori bricklayerRefugee who tunneled through the wall; recounts Astapor’s fall and plague.
- Astapori cobblerRefugee detailing starvation, hunts by sellswords, and slaughter after the gates fell.
- Astapori weaverRefugee who had hoped for Daenerys’s return; describes devastation and lost faith.