A Song of Ice and Fire, #3
A Storm of Swords
by George R. R. Martin
Contents
CHAPTER 42: DAENERYS
Overview
Daenerys sizes up Yunkai, courts its sellswords, rejects a bribe, and demands the city free its slaves. She launches a night assault, aided by Daario Naharis, who kills his fellow Stormcrow captains and brings the company over. The Yunkish host collapses; soon after, freed slaves pour from Yunkai hailing Daenerys as “Mother.”
The victory strengthens her anti-slavery crusade, expands her forces, deepens friction with Jorah, and builds her legend.
Summary
Daenerys scouts the Yunkish army with Jorah, judging it beatable but costly. She summons parleys: first the Stormcrows, then the Second Sons. She offers gold and future plunder for their allegiance; Prendahl insults her and refuses, while Mero leers, bargains, and departs with wine to “decide.”
At dusk, Yunkai’s envoy Grazdan offers a chest of gold for Daenerys to leave. She counters with a three‑day ultimatum to free every slave with goods and coin, then dramatically displays her dragons, scorching his tokar and sending him away with her terms. Afterward, Daenerys resolves to attack that very night, banking on sellsword distraction and Yunkai’s false sense of time.
Near midnight, Daario Naharis arrives bearing the severed heads of Prendahl and Sallor, pledging the Stormcrows to Daenerys. Against Jorah’s objections, Daenerys sends Daario back to strike the Yunkish rear during her three-pronged assault: Unsullied on both flanks, Dothraki wedged through the center.
While she waits, Arstan recounts Prince Rhaegar’s solemn nature and Harrenhal triumph. The battle ends swiftly: Jorah returns blood-spattered to report that the Stormcrows turned, the slave soldiers broke, and the drunken Second Sons barely fought. Losses are light for Daenerys; Yunkai’s forces yield or flee.
Marching to Yunkai, Daenerys besieges briefly. On the third day, the gates open and lines of slaves emerge. As Missandei proclaims their freedom, the crowd surges and hails Daenerys as “Mhysa” (Mother). She rides among them, accepting their acclamation, her cause and legend ascendant even as tension with Jorah lingers.
Who Appears
- Daenerys TargaryenLeader confronting Yunkai; demands emancipation, orchestrates a night assault, accepts Stormcrows’ defection, and is hailed “Mhysa” by freed slaves.
- Ser Jorah MormontAdvisor and commander; urges caution, clashes with Daenerys over trust in Daario, leads forces and reports the swift victory.
- Daario NaharisStormcrow captain who kills Prendahl and Sallor, pledges to Daenerys, and turns the Stormcrows to her side before the attack.
- Grey WormCommander of the Unsullied; oversees fortifications and prepares flanking attacks; vows to spare surrendering slaves.
- Arstan WhitebeardElder retainer; warns against Mero, douses Grazdan’s burning tokar, and recounts Prince Rhaegar’s nature and victories.
- Strong BelwasBodyguard; eager to defend Daenerys, stands guard during parleys and the tense night.
- MissandeiInterpreter; explains Yunkish terms and later proclaims Daenerys’s gift of freedom to Yunkai’s slaves.
- Grazdan mo ErazYunkai envoy who offers a bribe; is threatened by dragonfire and sent back with Daenerys’s emancipation ultimatum.
- Mero (the Titan’s Bastard)Second Sons commander; vulgar and defiant, drinks Daenerys’s wine, later flees when battle turns.
- Prendahl na GheznStormcrow captain who insults Daenerys and refuses her offer; later slain by Daario.
- Sallor the BaldStormcrow captain accompanying Prendahl; later killed by Daario as part of the defection.
- Drogon, Rhaegal, and ViserionDaenerys’s dragons; intimidate envoys, scorch Grazdan’s tokar, and feed on slain foes’ remains.
- JhogoBloodrider; scouts and pledges to handle Yunkai’s watchers; helps execute the night attack plan.