Contains spoilers for this episode and earlier episodes.
Meleys's head is paraded through King's Landing as proof of victory, but the crowd reacts with fear rather than celebration. Aegon returns hidden from public view, badly burned and unable to rule while the maesters treat him. Alicent asks Criston what happened at Rook's Rest and receives no clear account of Aemond's part in it. When the council chooses a regent, it passes over her experience and gives the office to Aemond.
Rhaenyra and Corlys mourn Rhaenys, leaving the Blacks without an experienced rider and their largest fighting dragon. Rhaenyra struggles with councillors who doubt her ability to lead, while Mysaria argues that hunger and fear inside the capital can be turned against its rulers. Jacaerys travels to the Twins to negotiate passage for the northern army. His initiative wins his mother's approval, even as she fears another son encountering Aemond away from Dragonstone.
At Harrenhal, Daemon's campaign against the Brackens backfires when the Blackwoods commit atrocities under Targaryen banners. The Riverlords reject the methods used in his name and refuse to offer the loyalty he expects. Rhaenyra sends Alfred Broome to find out what he intends. Back at Dragonstone, she and Jace consider a different way to match Vhagar: finding descendants of Targaryens who might ride Vermithor and Silverwing, the great dragons that currently lack riders.