After House of the Dragon’s Season 2 finale, Max gave fans a surprise: a teaser for HBO’s new Game of Thrones spin-off, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms. The teaser is very short, just seven seconds, but it shows the main character, the Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, and his squire.
Although it’s exciting, the teaser only gives a quick look at some key characters and doesn’t reveal much about the story. George R.R. Martin has confirmed that HBO is working on several spin-offs.
These include Aegon’s Conquest, a series about Aegon I Targaryen’s conquest of Westeros, and The Sea Snake, which might be an animated series about young Corlys Velaryon’s Nine Voyages. A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms might already be familiar to some Game of Thrones fans.
What Is ‘A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms’ About?
A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms is based on a series of novellas by George R.R. Martin. The name comes from the collection of the first three novellas: The Hedge Knight, The Sworn Sword, and The Mystery Knight. These stories, also called the Tales of Dunk and Egg, happen between Game of Thrones and House of the Dragon.
They take place 77 years after the Dance of the Dragons and 89 years before Game of Thrones starts. The books follow a wandering knight named Ser Duncan the Tall and his squire Egg. Duncan is a future member of Aegon V’s Kingsguard, and Egg is the future Aegon V. They travel across Westeros together.
The novellas are still ongoing. The most recent one was published in 2010, and there are about six to twelve more planned. The Dunk and Egg stories explore Westeros in more detail and elaborate on Aegon V’s reign. They might also reveal the mystery of the Tragedy at Summerhall.
The stories start with Dunk and Egg’s first meeting and will probably continue up to the Tragedy at Summerhall, which is the night Dunk and Egg die and the same night Rhaegar Targaryen is born.
‘The Hedge Knight’ Introduces Dunk and Egg
The Hedge Knight was first published in 1998 and introduces Dunk and Egg. After his mentor Ser Arlan of Pennytree dies, Dunk takes up his armor and horses and becomes Ser Duncan the Tall. He meets a young boy named Egg and makes him his squire.
They head to a tourney at Ashford, but Dunk is almost turned away because he can’t prove he’s a knight. Prince Baelor Targaryen vouches for him.
Dunk defends a puppeteer named Tanselle from Prince Aerion Targaryen, which leads to Dunk’s arrest. Egg tries to help but reveals he is Prince Aegon Targaryen. Dunk still faces punishment but chooses a trial by combat, which turns into a Trial of Seven.
With help from several knights and Prince Baelor, Dunk wins the trial, though it costs lives, including Baelor’s. Dunk feels guilty about Baelor’s death and agrees to train Aegon. They set out for Dorne.
‘The Sworn Sword’ Explores the Blackfyre Rebellions
The Sworn Sword continues the Dunk and Egg stories and gives more details about the Blackfyre Rebellions. The story begins with Dunk and Egg, now sworn to Ser Eustace Osgrey of Standfast in the Reach after returning from Dorne.
They discover a dam built by House Webber on Ser Eustace’s land, leading to a conflict. Dunk tries to talk to Lady Rohanne of House Webber but learns that Ser Eustace supported the Blackfyres.
Dunk leaves Ser Eustace’s service but tries to resolve the dam issue. This leads to another trial by combat, which Dunk narrowly wins. Ser Eustace marries Lady Rohanne to make peace, and Dunk and Egg plan to visit the Wall in the North.
‘The Mystery Knight’ Adds a New Mystery
The Mystery Knight further develops the Blackfyre Rebellions’ storylines and is likely important for future Dunk and Egg novellas and the A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms series. Dunk and Egg go to Winterfell to help Lord Stark with a Greyjoy rebellion.
They meet knights heading to a tourney at Whitewalls, where a dragon egg is rumored to be the prize. Dunk becomes suspicious of Gormon Peake, a former Blackfyre supporter, and during the tourney, Dunk and Egg discover many competitors are former rebels. Dunk loses a joust and learns his opponent was bribed to kill him.
The dragon egg is stolen, and a knight named Ser Glendon Ball is falsely accused. Dunk finds out John the Fiddler, the Mystery Knight, is Daemon Blackfyre’s son and helps expose the plot.
This results in another trial by combat where Ser Glendon defeats Daemon Blackfyre’s son and proves his innocence. Bloodraven, the Hand of the King, arrives with an army, captures the rebels, and destroys Whitewalls. Dunk and Egg receive rewards, but the dragon egg’s disappearance remains unsolved.
Will ‘A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms’ Stick to the Books?
Even though the teaser has been released, not much is known about A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, including when it will be released. The series started filming in Belfast in June 2024 and is expected to air in the latter half of 2025.
Each novella might have its own season, with the first season having six episodes. Since the novellas are short, the events will likely be expanded to fit each six-episode season. With A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms over a year away and House of the Dragon’s third season expected in 2026, viewers will have to wait to return to Westeros.
