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Spoilers for House of the Dragon season 2, episode 7, “The Red Sowing.” Hugh Hammer and Ulf the White are the two men who leave Dragonstone with dragons: Hugh claims Vermithor, while Ulf bonds with Silverwing. Their gains strengthen Rhaenyra’s side, but the attempt to find new riders is brutally dangerous—and Ulf’s flight over King’s Landing brings Aemond to Dragonstone, where Rhaenyra’s growing dragon force makes him turn back.
Why Rhaenyra is looking for new dragonriders
“The Red Sowing,” the seventh episode of season two and the season’s penultimate installment, follows Rhaenyra’s effort to answer a military imbalance with riders for two unclaimed dragons: Vermithor and Silverwing. Addam’s bond with Seasmoke has already shown that a dragon can accept someone outside the royal line of legitimate heirs. Rhaenyra now calls potential Targaryen bastards—often called dragonseeds—to Dragonstone to try their luck.
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She makes no promise that the process is safe. Before the candidates approach Vermithor, she tells them, “It must be the dragon who speaks.” The line, spoken by Rhaenyra to the would-be riders, is quoted in Cheryl Eddy’s July 29, 2024 Gizmodo/io9 recap.
How Hugh claims Vermithor
At the Dragonmont, Rhaenyra summons Vermithor and steps aside as the candidates approach. The dragon attacks the group, turning the attempt into a deadly scramble rather than a ceremonial selection. Hugh survives the chaos and holds his ground instead of fleeing. Vermithor accepts him, making Hugh a rider of one of the most formidable dragons available to Rhaenyra.
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How Ulf finds Silverwing
Ulf’s claim happens differently. He runs from Vermithor’s attack, gets separated from the other candidates, and stumbles farther into the cavern. There he encounters Silverwing, who accepts him. The two successful bonds come from the same perilous recruitment drive, but Hugh’s follows a direct confrontation with Vermithor, while Ulf finds his dragon after escaping the initial violence.
| Rider | Dragon | How the bond happens | Immediate effect |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hugh Hammer | Vermithor | Survives the attack and stands his ground; Vermithor accepts him. | Adds a powerful rider to Rhaenyra’s side. |
| Ulf the White | Silverwing | Flees Vermithor, then encounters Silverwing deeper in the cavern. | His flight publicly reveals the new dragon power and draws Aemond to Dragonstone. |
Why Ulf’s flight changes the balance
Ulf and Silverwing fly over King’s Landing, startling the city and disrupting its political calm. Aemond takes Vhagar after them and reaches Dragonstone. There he sees Rhaenyra with multiple dragons at her side and turns away rather than risk an attack. Ulf’s unplanned flight has made Rhaenyra’s new strength visible to her enemy before the episode’s next confrontation.
What else happens in “The Red Sowing”
Daemon faces the consequences of his Riverlands campaign
Daemon secures support in the Riverlands only after confronting the consequences of the campaign he has pursued there. His story keeps the episode’s focus on the costs of gaining political and military power.
Alicent steps away from court
Alicent leaves King’s Landing for time away from court. Alongside the dangerous recruitment on Dragonstone and Daemon’s Riverlands struggle, her departure broadens the episode beyond its dragon spectacle.
What the episode does—and does not—settle about dragon bonds
The successful claims challenge the assumption that only legitimate royal heirs can ride dragons. But “The Red Sowing” does not establish a complete rule for how dragon-bonding works. Hugh and Ulf show two different routes to acceptance; the episode leaves open how lineage, temperament, or other factors shape a dragon’s choice.
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