Contents
DAENERYS — Chapter 3
Overview
In Meereen, Daenerys confronts insurgent murders as the Sons of the Harpy kill an Unsullied, exposing her rule’s fragility. She rejects brutal reprisals and refuses to reopen the fighting pits despite political pressure. After a day of petitions, a grieving father presents a child’s charred bones, implicating Drogon and escalating her crisis.
Summary
Before dawn, Daenerys is shown the mutilated corpse of Stalwart Shield, an Unsullied slain by the Sons of the Harpy. She orders investigation, rewards for leads, and pairs for night patrols, vowing to bury him with honor. Ser Barristan warns that Unsullied are ill-suited to clandestine policing, but Dany has few alternatives until Daario or the Stormcrows return.
On her terrace, Dany worries over growing unrest and her increasingly wild dragons as Viserion takes flight. She dons the Meereenese tokar to placate custom, recalling past cruelties and the enemies she made. With Reznak and Skahaz, she debates responses: Skahaz urges blood-for-blood hostages; Dany instead raises bounties to uncover the killers.
Holding court, Dany refuses Astapor’s envoy Lord Ghael’s call for war against Yunkai and declines marriage, then denies Hizdahr zo Loraq’s renewed plea to reopen the fighting pits despite economic and religious arguments. She adjudicates disputes between freedmen and former masters—restoring jewels but not abandoned property, compensating a husband for a noble’s bedslave child but refusing gelding, and upholding her blanket pardon from the sack despite a grieving boy’s demand for executions.
As the long session wears on, she accepts gifts, taxes, and petitions, and establishes stricter proof and holy oaths for livestock claims as her dragons feast on mutton. The hall’s mood remains sullen despite compensation.
Finally, a shabbily dressed father pours blackened bones onto the floor, claiming the “winged shadow,” Drogon, burned and devoured his child. The revelation horrifies Daenerys, transforming her mounting governance challenges into a personal catastrophe involving her own dragon.
Who Appears
- Daenerys TargaryenQueen of Meereen; investigates an Unsullied’s murder, rejects mass reprisals and fighting pits, adjudicates petitions, and faces a claim that Drogon killed a child.
- Ser Barristan SelmyCounsels Dany that Unsullied are poor investigators; supports restraint and recognizes the child’s bones.
- Grey WormUnsullied commander; reports Stalwart Shield’s death and follows Dany’s orders to investigate and adjust patrols.
- Reznak mo ReznakSeneschal managing petitions; urges reopening pits for revenue, handles livestock compensation, and initially misreads the bones.
- Skahaz mo Kandaq (the Shavepate)Advocates harsh reprisals—hostage executions—from great families to stop the Sons of the Harpy.
- Hizdahr zo LoraqWealthy noble and pit owner; eloquently petitions to reopen fighting pits, rebuffed again.
- Lord GhaelAstapori envoy; brings slippers and proposes war against Yunkai. Dany declines.
- Grazdan zo GalareNoble seeking a share of freed weavers’ earnings; Dany denies and penalizes him to fund a new loom.
- Stalwart ShieldUnsullied slain by Sons of the Harpy; his death signals bolder insurgency and prompts Dany’s response.
- MissandeiAnnounces the court and supports Dany during petitions.
- IrriHandmaid; assists Dany dressing and warns against touching the dead.
- JhiquiHandmaid; helps with the tokar and attends Dany.
- Strong BelwasSubdues a grieving boy who rushes the dais during petitions.
- ViserionWhite dragon; restless and growing, seen taking flight from the terrace.
- DrogonBlack dragon; accused of burning and devouring a child, triggering a personal and political crisis.
- Grieving fatherUnnamed herdsman who presents his child’s charred bones, blaming Drogon.