Episode 3 of "A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms" unfolds with Dunk fast asleep, while Egg lies restless, eagerly anticipating the day's tasks as squire. In the morning, Egg attempts to reason with Thunder, Dunk's horse, explaining that they are the last line of defense and the difference between Ser Duncan's victory or defeat. Thunder eventually begins galloping across a vast open field, until they are interrupted by the arrival of Ser Robyn Rhysling, known as the maddest knight in the Kingdom and a highly skilled rider.
Robyn lost his eye in a jousting tournament and after questioning if Egg stole the horse and some playful banter, Egg eventually returns to Dunk. He is awake but still on edge. Initially snapping at Egg, Dunk eventually softens, and the pair work together on the day's chores. There's a humorous segment where Dunk misunderstands Egg's question about hair, before they head into the village together.
Dunk cannot actually participate in the tournament yet, given that the opening games are only for highborns and nobles. This gives Dunk more time to try and woo Tanselle with a classic line of "do you like goose eggs?" It goes about as well as expected! The pair have a delightful time watching the jousting, with Egg wonderfully retorting that he would be happy in a place like this, enjoying hearty food, watching the games, and generally living life to the fullest.
Egg dreams of returning as a war hero, taking the second most beautiful daughter after Dunk takes the most beautiful. Dunk even decides to let Egg stay on as his squire if he wins the jousting. Of course, being is the operative word here!
However, Dunk's tranquil moment is disrupted by Plummer's approach. Rather than risk losing all his hard-earned money in the jousts, Plummer proposes an intriguing wager to Dunk: to unseat Lord Ashford's son, Ser Androw, and bet the stakes on the hedge-knight. If Dunk emerges victorious, he would not only gain a substantial sum of cash for himself but also alleviate the financial burden of the tourney's expenses. Though an honorable man, Dunk finds the proposition unsettling, but he agrees to give it some thought.
As Prince Aerion Brightflame takes to the field, he selects Ser Humfrey Hardyng as his opponent. The mismatch is glaring, and not only does Humfrey lose his seat, but the horse is pierced and ultimately falls on the man's leg. Aerion's victory is met with outrage from the crowd, who disapprove of such dishonorable means of winning. Rocks and debris rain down on Aerion, forcing the Kingsguard to intervene. This small but significant moment serves as a stark reminder that the Targaryens are no longer the ruling power they once were in House of the Dragon, foreshadowing the moment when the Baratheons will replace them prior to Game of Thrones.
The sight is difficult for Egg to witness, but Dunk reassures him, urging the young squire to be strong as there may come a time when he will need his help if things take a turn for the worse. That night, Aerion attends a puppet show and witnesses Tanselle's story of a dragon being slain. Enraged by what he sees as a dishonor against his house, Aerion attacks Tanselle, breaking her finger. The sickening crack is heard by Dunk, who immediately loses his temper. He grabs Aerion, throws him to the ground, and slaps him across the face. Guards quickly intervene to hold back Dunk as Aerion calls Tanselle a traitor and boasts that with one of his teeth loosened, Dunk is now facing a similar fate. However, before things can escalate further, Egg steps in and stops everything.
In a shocking twist, Egg reveals that he is none other than Aegon Targaryen, Aerion's younger brother and a Prince of the Iron Throne!
