Let's break down the latest episode of House of the Dragon, 'The Burning Mill' (season 2, episode 3).

In the Riverlands, a minor territorial dispute results in the Brackens and Blackwoods slaughtering each other in a bloody battle. To avert war, Rhaenys tells Rhaenyra that Alicent may see reason. Criston proposes a bold plan to conquer Harrenhal; Daemon arrives there first, whereupon the castellan pledges allegiance. That night, Daemon has a vision of a young Rhaenyra sewing Jaehaerys' head onto his body. He awakens, and an unknown woman foretells his death there. Rhaenyra sends Rhaena, her younger children (Joffrey, Aegon and Viserys), and dragon eggs to the Arryns for protection and to continue House Targaryen should the Blacks fall. Mysaria becomes Rhaenyra's adviser, while Aegon makes Larys his Master of Whisperers. At a brothel, a man claims to be a Dragonseed and bastard half-brother of the late King Viserys; Aegon and his retinue bring a new squire to this brothel. Aegon encounters and taunts a naked Aemond, who gruffly departs. Alicent's brother Gwayne, accompanying Criston to Harrenhal Hall, unwisely heads to a nearby village seeking amusement. Criston intercepts the group just as Baela, patrolling on dragonback, spots them; the men escape into the trees. After Baela reports sighting Criston, Rhaenyra's councilors recommend war with dragons. Instead, Rhaenyra sneaks into King's Landing disguised as a Septa and speaks with Alicent, who says war cannot be avoided. Rhaenyra realizes Alicent misunderstood King Viserys' dying words: Alicent mistook her son, Aegon, for the prophesied Aegon the Conqueror.

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