House Of The Dragon's Ormund Hightower Debut Secretly Reveals A Missing Targaryen

Published Jun 22, 2026, 11:31 AM EDT

House of the Dragon season 3, episode 1, "Salt and Sea, Fire and Blood", introduced another member of the Hightower family, Ormund Hightower (James Norton), and with Ormund comes a Targaryen prince who has been missing from the show until this point. Ormund, the Head of House Hightower and cousin to Alicent (Olivia Cooke) and Gwayne (Freddie Fox), shows up in style in the HOTD season 3 premiere.

With his glinting armor, green cape, and hulking figure, he's the most imposing Hightower we've had since Otto (Rhys Ifans), who remains MIA. However, his disgust at the smell of a messenger and need to sniff some strange perfume in a jar attached to his belt suggest maybe he's not as suited to command as his large army would imply.

Alongside Ormund is the powerful Hightower force, as well as a blue dragon, only briefly seen as a messenger arrives. This is Tessarion, the dragon mount of Prince Daeron Targaryen (Benjamin Evan Ainsworth), the (supposedly) as yet unrevealed fourth child of Alicent and Viserys I (Paddy Considine).

It turns out, we actually saw Daeron this episode, despite very little fanfare. As Ormund receives a messenger from Alicent, he's flanked by Jon Roxton (Joplin Sibtain) and an unnamed, red-haired young man who appears to be some sort of page in the service of Ormund.

The internet has already correctly guessed that this mysterious character, who does step in front of the camera for a bit longer than you would expect an extra to, is indeed Daeron, and like in Fire & Blood, he is flying alongside the armies of the Reach to save Alicent at King's Landing.

Why Daeron Targaryen Is With Ormund Hightower In House Of The Dragon Season 3

In the books, Daeron is the beloved youngest child of Alicent, though in the shadows of his brothers, he learned to be a follower rather than a leader. At the age of 12, Daeron was sent to Oldtown to squire for Ormund, a role which he still appears to serve in House of the Dragon season 3, episode 1.

Though his dragon is still one of the smaller ones in Westeros, it was clearly deemed large enough to warrant its accompaniment on the ride north, with Daeron in tow. When Ormund hears that Aemond (Ewan Mitchell) is styling himself as "king", he makes a wry joke, suggesting that the throne is not secure, even as far as Alicent's children go, and perhaps he has other designs for Daeron once they get to the Red Keep.

House Of The Dragon Season 3 Is Already Teasing A Major Daeron Change

Credit: HBO

Though we know very little about Daeron, we do know the show has already made one major change with the character. They've turned the silver family locks red. He looks more Hightower than Targaryen now. Daeron does not have a particularly major role in the novel, but the show is already giving him more.

It seems that Ormund is trying to disguise Daeron to an extent. If Aegon II (Tom Glynn-Carney) is missing and presumed dead, and if Aemond has no support, not even from his mother, Daeron could be the only real challenger to Rhaenyra's (Emma D'Arcy) claim. Keeping him safe through disguises might be Ormund's main goal throughout House of the Dragon season 3.

Release Date August 21, 2022

Network HBO

Directors Clare Kilner, Geeta Patel

Writers Gabe Fonseca

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  Fabien Frankel

  Ser Criston Cole