Ser Criston Cole (Fabien Frankel) and his men come upon a camp made by Lord Tully’s army as HBO’s House of the Dragon season three, episode six opens. They’ve been walking for a long time and Cole’s army has dwindled. Criston’s informed that something strange happened there. The Rivermen are dead and their animals slaughtered, but there’s no sign of anyone walking through camp. Cole determines the men were killed elsewhere.

(The following is a recap of season three, episode six and there are spoilers.)

However, what they’ve walked straight into is a trap. The Rivermen are alive and leap to their feet, slaughtering many of Cole’s men right away. The battle rages on and Cole singlehandedly takes out dozens of the Rivermen. Although the Rivermen had a jump on Cole’s army, Cole loudly boasts, “We light the way!” believing he’s won.

Suddenly, Lord Tully (Archie Barnes) and Ser Roderick Dustin’s Winter Wolves surround Cole’s remaining men. Cole attempts to strike a deal, asking if his death will suffice. Cole wraps Alicent’s kerchief around his sword handle and asks for his men to be let go. He offers to take on Lord Tully and Ser Roderick (Tommy Flanagan), but before they answer, he’s shot with three arrows, including one in the face. His men are then slaughtered.

Meanwhile, Alicent (Olivia Cooke) and Helaena (Phia Saban) are discovered in the secret passage where they were trapped overnight.

Queen Rhaenyra’s small council meets, and Daemon (Matt Smith) is furious that Ser Luthor and 14 of the Gold Cloaks have been killed, all on Lord Ormund’s orders. Daemon wants to burn Tumbleton, promising to concentrate his dragon’s fire on the areas where the Hightower army has taken up shelter.

Every other member of the small council disagrees, and Alyn (Abubakar Salim) suggests Rhaenyra waits for the army to make it to Tumbleton. Daemon believes the cost is too high; they must act now. Rhaenyra (Emma D’Arcy) decides to send assassins – but not Daemon. She asks Alyn to request more men from his father.

House Baratheon’s delegation arrives without Lord Borros, who’s busy in another fight with the Vulture King. Rhaenyra’s insulted by the slight and warns that she could brand Lord Borros a traitor for disobeying her and for not being there himself.

Hugh (Kieran Bew) takes over watch duty from Ulf (Tom Bennett), and they discuss how King’s Landing used to have full markets before King Viserys died. Ulf’s upset that he’s been banned from going to the taverns but reluctantly admits he wouldn’t go back to his old life if he had a choice. However, he’s frustrated he has a dragon and can’t show it off to his friends.

Rhaenyra demands to know why Alicent is so ungrateful, and she confesses Helaena is with child. They only fled to save the baby and Helaena’s life. Alicent believes Rhaenyra would have killed them since they could be a challenge to the throne. Rhaenyra orders Alicent and Helaena confined, and Alicent begs her to send them away instead. Rhaenyra reminds her that she is the enemy to her court.

Rhaenyra tells Mysaria (Sonoya Mizuno) that Helaena’s with child, and Mysaria lies and says she didn’t know.

Daemon stands in front of the table where Ser Luthor and the Gold Cloaks were slain. His men gather before him, and one asks to resign. He can’t die in service and leave his children penniless. Daemon reminds them how terrible things were before he trained them to be the City Watch they’ve become. Daemon’s shocked that all of them before him are resigning. The Gold Cloaks’ ranks are decimated.

Alyn visits his father, Lord Corlys Velaryon (Steve Toussaint), who’s busy hanging Triarchy men. He informs his dad of Ormund Hightower’s doings and asks for more of the Velaryon men to fill the City Watch’s ranks. Corlys can’t believe he’s obeying Rhaenyra’s orders, but Alyn doesn’t back down. Before Alyn leaves, he informs Corlys that Tyron Lannister is alive and heading to Rook’s Rest.

Elsewhere, Aegon (Tom Glynn-Carney) and Larys (Matthew Needham) watch as Tyron (Jefferson Hall) buries the thief Aegon killed. Larys bought passage on a boat to Braavos and thinks they can sail before the full moon. Tyron is set on Aegon going to Casterly Rock instead to fight back against Rhaenyra. Aegon asks if Tyron thinks he’s a terrible man, and Tyron can’t come out and say he agrees but strongly hints it.

Aegon decides they’ll sail for Essos.

Over at Harrenhal, Alys (Gayle Rankin) checks on Aemond’s wounds and thanks him for defending her. Aemond (Ewan Mitchell) is determined to find Vhagar because he still thinks he’s nothing without her. Alys suggests that Aemond remain at Harrenhal and gather his strength. He wants a horse to ride out, thinking it’s possible Vhagar will come to him. If not, he’ll head toward where Vhagar used to hang out.

Alys thinks Vhagar may have flown away to protect him, since no one would believe Vhagar left Aemond behind. She also reminds him that Rhaenyra has six dragons to his one.

Rhaena (Phoebe Campbell) eats blackberries outside her cave/hiding place and watches as two dragons fly by. A short while later she’s brought before Lady Jeyne Arryn (Amanda Collin) after leaving her cave hiding place, in violation of their agreement, to fly after her sister’s dragon, Moondancer. Jeyne slaps Rhaena, furious that others could have seen her and realized she’s hiding in the Vale. If word reaches the queen that Sheepstealer’s rider isn’t dead, then Jeyne will be accused of harboring Jace’s killer.

Rhaena pleads for forgiveness, and Jeyne advises her she will only have one more chance.

Baela (Bethany Antonia) is exhausted from patrolling and rests, and Alyn catches her sleeping in an uncomfortable position. He wonders if she’ll speak to his father because he’s become incredibly distant. Baela wishes she could help him but says she has her own burdens to bear.

Baela approaches her half-uncle and compliments him before they passionately kiss.

Ser Gwayne Hightower (Freddie Fox) left Criston’s army before they were massacred and traveled to Tumbleton without him. Lord Ormund (James Norton) isn’t pleased to see him and can’t believe he stopped fighting. Gwayne reminds him that there’s currently a dragon on a hill above them and five more ready to come to Tumbleton if Rhaenyra orders them to. Ormund’s convinced Rhaenyra would never burn her subjects.

Gwayne believes the Rivermen will be there soon, but Ormund’s not worried. He insists they have the advantage and will keep turning King’s Landing against Rhaenyra. (There doesn’t seem to be any love lost between Ormund and Gwayne.) Ormund asks about the men Gwayne’s slept with and warns Daeron (Benjamin Evan Ainsworth) to keep his back turned to the wall when he shows Gwayne to his quarters.

After leaving Ormund, Daeron and Gwayne openly discuss their dislike of Ormund. Daeron knows he’s crazy but there’s nothing he can do about it. He doesn’t think he’ll ever be king and begs Gwayne to stay. Gwayne claims he has to return to Oldtown since he’s second in line.

Alicent’s concerned because Helaena refuses to talk or eat. Helaena finally asks about Jaehaera and if her daughter was really going to accompany them when they escaped. Alicent admits she wasn’t because it would have been too dangerous.

Helaena’s hunger strike continues.

Alys kills a stable boy who sees Aemond and reminds him that she will keep his secret. Aemond wonders what game she’s playing, and she shows him a crate with five dragon eggs. Aemond realizes they are Dreamfyre’s and Alys says his ancestor Rhaena Targaryen brought them to Harrenhal after her daughter’s death. The dragon laid them before Rhaena died and they’ve been there 100 years. Alys envisions a Targaryen in charge of Harrenhal.

Alys knows Aemond’s been alone his whole life and so has she. She wonders if he can even imagine what it would be like otherwise. There’s an ancient strength in Harrenhal and he can be the dragon lord by her side. She will be the Lady of the Water, and they will have Targaryen princes.

Rhaenyra listens to the small folk as they plead for help. Without the City Watch, Flea Bottom has fallen further into lawlessness. Rhaenyra blames the Hightowers for the lawlessness and assures the people that Velaryon men are coming to protect them. She leaves as they yell at her for not offering any help.

Daemon, back in a Gold Cloak uniform, is followed through the city streets. He aware he’s being followed and demands to know how many men are working for Ormund. The man reveals that Ormund’s men are everywhere and when they are struck down, more will rise up.

His last words before Daemon kills him are, “You can burn us. You can kill us. You’ll never make us embrace her.”

Daemon literally runs into Ulf, and Ulf’s disrespectful and demands time in the city off duty. Daemon warns him to stay out of the city or he’ll blind him.

At Tumbleton, Ormund sits at the end of a table filled with delicious food and rants about how common men who’ve clawed their way to power can’t be trusted. He warns Daeron to be careful choosing his Hand once he’s king.

Men sent by Lord Borros Baratheon, Lord Paramount of the Stormlands, interrupt their meal. Ser Arrion Baratheon introduces himself as the leader of the group, and Ormund’s visibly upset about their smell and walks further away from the group. (Alicent told Rhaenyra that Ormund’s sensitive to smells.)

Ser Arrion claims Lord Baratheon has pledged to bend the knee to Daeron Targaryen. Ormund introduces Daeron just as a Baratheon soldier moves his hand toward his blade. Gwayne notices it and slits Ser Arrion’s throat. Gwayne and Ormund’s men are able to kill the remaining assassins. Afterward, Gwayne points out Ser Arrion doesn’t look anything like the man who claimed the name.

Ormund declares that he’ll kill Rhaenyra and then vomits.

Hugh flags down a man driving a cart, pulls him off, and beats him. He takes the man’s place and rides into Tumbleton. He finds his wife, Kat (Ellora Torchia), and she’s relieved he isn’t dead. Kat sobs as Hugh says he looked for her, but she was gone. Kat explains that she escaped to her brother’s, but now he’s dead too. Hugh proudly announces that he’s a dragonrider and will have money for a house and food. Kat reacts by being furious that he sought glory and left her to suffer on her own.

Hugh apologizes but can’t stay. He asks Kat to go with him, but she refuses. A physical struggle between them follows and she scurries away.

Daeron practices sword fighting as Ormund concedes that Gwayne did well to fight the assassins. Ormund tells him he can return to Oldtown, but Gwayne wants to know why he’s staying in Tumbleton.

Alicent meets with Rhaenyra and asks for a guarantee that she and Helaena can go free if she tells her where Aemond is right now. Rhaenyra refuses to believe Aemond’s at Harrenhal because Vhagar’s not there. Alicent assures her that Helaena has dreams that come true and that Aemond’s there without Vhagar. Rhaenyra knows of dreamers and believes Alicent. Instead of sending swords, she’ll send Alicent to kill Aemond.

Alicent doesn’t want to do it and begs not to be sent because she can’t leave Helaena. Rhaenyra promises to watch Helaena until Alicent returns.

“Did I not warn you that you would come to this?” asks Alicent.

Alicent tells Helaena what she has to do for them to be free. Helaena doesn’t want to be alone and asks why she had to marry her brother. Alicent reveals it was Otto’s wish for her to marry Aegon and she went along with it to keep her close.

Helaena finally takes a spoonful of soup and Alicent promises to return as soon as possible. Then, they’ll leave this place together.

Grand Maester Orwyle (Kurt Egyiawan) hands Rhaenyra clothing delivered by a rider from Tumbleton. On it is written, “Kick this dog and it will bite your hand.”

Lord Corlys delivers a rousing speech to his men around a campfire, telling him their blades are needed in the city. He confesses that he’s been away too long. Corlys walks away from his men and is taken hostage. Ormund’s men slaughter Corlys’ soldiers.

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