Jon Connington boldly crosses the Narrow Sea on Volantine ships and retakes Griffin’s Roost, his ancestral castle in the Stormlands in Westeros. He means to take Storm’s End as well but is still waiting for the Volantine ships to bring the rest of his forces, elephants, and horses; the Volantine ships have been dumping his forces on any shore to get back to Volantis quickly. Connington’s captains encourage him to wait or even join in with Stannis, but he nixes the idea. He intends to use guile to take Storm’s End before anyone gets word that he and Young Griff/Aegon are in Westeros. Young Griff/Aegon is emboldened now that he is in Westeros. He wants to lead their men in taking Storm’s End. His actions—and arrogance—remind Connington of Prince Rhaegar, with whom Connington had a close relationship before Robert’s Rebellion.

Connington rose high on the strength of this friendship, all the way to becoming the prince’s Hand. His fall from grace came during the rebellion. He had Robert Baratheon pinned down in Stoney Sept in central Westeros. Rather than wait for Rhaegar’s forces to join him, he pursued Robert on his own. The townspeople moved Robert from house to house to prevent Connington from capturing Robert, and Robert emerged later to defeat the Targaryen forces.