The second episode of A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms brought familiar faces and history from the wider Westeros saga to Ashford Meadow. Titled Hard Salt Beef, the episode, which aired on January 25, 2026, introduces key Targaryen princes and weaves in deep lore connections to both Game of Thrones and House of the Dragon. For fans, these are not just background details but vital links that show where this new story fits in the grand, often tragic, timeline of House Targaryen.
The Targaryen Family Tree and Its Major Connections
The most direct links to the other series come with the arrival of the royal family. Prince Baelor Targaryen, heir to the Iron Throne, and his brother Prince Maekar are central figures.
Baelor Breakspear is the eldest son of the reigning king, Daeron II Targaryen, and serves as his Hand. He is noted for his darker hair, a trait inherited from his Dornish mother, Princess Myriah Martell. His presence shows a Targaryen dynasty trying to strengthen its bonds across the realm nearly 80 years after the destructive Dance of the Dragons depicted in House of the Dragon.
Maekarโs family line is especially important for future events. His sons include the brash Aerion Brightflame and, more notably, Aemon and Aegon. The show reveals that Maekarโs sons Daeron and Aegon are missing, causing him great distress. Maester Aemon, the wise counselor to Jon Snow at the Nightโs Watch in Game of Thrones, is Maekarโs third son, currently studying at the Citadel during the events of this episode. Even more significant is the reveal that Maekarโs missing son, Aegon, is the young boy traveling as Dunkโs squire, nicknamed Egg. This means Egg is Aegon V Targaryen, who will one day become king and is the great-grandfather of Daenerys Stormborn.
Prince Baelor Targaryen is portrayed here as having darker hair mingled with flecks of silver as described in the loreโฆ According to the novellas, Prince Baelor is the eldest son of King Daeron II and his wife, Myriah Martell, a Dornish princess.
Great Houses and Ancestors of Future Characters
The tournament at Ashford gathers nobility from across the Seven Kingdoms, showcasing ancestors of famous Game of Thrones characters.
House Baratheon is represented by Ser Lyonel Baratheon, the “Laughing Storm”. Described as a swaggering giant and a great fighter, Lyonel is the great-grandfather of King Robert Baratheon, who would later overthrow the Targaryen dynasty. His friendly, boisterous nature in the show contrasts with the sternness of his descendants.
Lord Leo Tyrell, the host of the tournament, is the head of House Tyrell. The Tyrells, symbolized by their golden rose sigil, would become major political players in Game of Thrones, though the house is eventually destroyed. While not a direct ancestor, Damon Lannister, known as the Grey Lion, is also mentioned as the current Lord of Casterly Rock. He is the great-great-grandfather of Cersei, Jaime, and Tyrion Lannister.
Other houses seen or mentioned include House Florent, which would later align with Stannis Baratheon (whose wife, Selyse, was a Florent), and House Tully, whose red-and-blue banner can be spotted during the joust.
Lore Deep Cuts: Knights, Fables, and Past Wars
The episode connects to the broader legendarium of Westeros through stories and recent history.
The puppet show performed by Tanselle tells the tale of Florian the Fool, a legendary knight of the Age of Heroes. This story is well-known in Westerosi culture. On Game of Thrones, Sansa Stark loved romantic tales like this, and Tywin Lannister even referenced Florianโs beloved, Jonquil, while speaking with Arya. The fable of the lowborn fool who becomes a knight parallels Dunkโs own journey.
Dunkโs quest also forces him to recount the Battle of the Redgrass Field, the decisive clash that ended the First Blackfyre Rebellion. This civil war, which ended about 15 years before the showโs events, was fought between King Daeron II and his legitimized bastard half-brother, Daemon Blackfyre. Dunkโs late master, Ser Arlan, fought for the crown in this battle. The conflict is a shadow over the era, mentioned to show the lingering tensions within the realm.
The Kingsguard and Visual Lore Details
The episode pays close attention to the look of the Kingsguard. The two knights Dunk meets, Ser Roland Crakehall and Ser Donnel of Duskendale, wear pristine white armor that is more faithful to the book descriptions than the armor seen in Game of Thrones or House of the Dragon. Their cloaks and armor feature the proper sigil of the order: a golden crown surrounded by seven silver swords on a white field.
Ser Donnelโs background is itself a small link. He says he is from Duskendale, a port city near Kingโs Landing. This location was sacked by Ser Criston Cole during the Dance of the Dragons on House of the Dragon, a brutal act that loyal fans would remember.
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The Secret Identity of Egg and Ongoing Mysteries
The biggest ongoing connection is the true identity of Egg. The show drops clear hints for attentive viewers. Egg acts suspiciously and runs off to camp when the Targaryens arrive, and he seems to know details about Prince Valarrโs fighting skill. He also casually plays at fighting “Blackfyre bastards” at camp, showing knowledge of recent royal history uncommon for a lowborn boy. These clues point to the big reveal from the books: Egg is Prince Aegon Targaryen, Maekarโs missing son.
This makes Dunkโs story the origin tale of a future king and his most trusted protector, setting the stage for how their friendship will one day shape the Seven Kingdoms.
Also Read: Presumed Innocent Season 2: New Cast, New Case, and Everything We Know
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