Owls, swords and sibling rivalry in new pics from House of the Dragon Episode 206

The sixth, as-yet-untitled episode of House of the Dragon season 2 is coming up this weekend, and we've already broken down the trailer shot by shot. Now, HBO has released some glossy, official new images. Here's what's in store for our heroes, antiheroes, villains, and Alys Rivers:

I don't know why I started with Alys. The mysterious Harrenhal healer has been pow-wowing with Daemon Targaryen during his somewhat tiresome stay at the crumbling Riverlands castle. Maybe things will pick up now that she has an owl friend (and remember that Alys claimed earlier that she was actually a barn owl in human form. Are you gonna tell her she's wrong?)

It looks like both Daemon and Alys are standing in the godswood of Harrenhal here.

On Dragonstone and in the Vale

Meanwhile, Rhaenyra Targaryen continues to try and manage her war effort from the island fastness of Dragonstone:

In the trailer for the episode, she mentions needing to take up the symbols of authority — the sword and the shield — if she wants to be taken seriously. Sh puts her money where her mouth is:

Last episode, Corlys Velaryon was made Rhaenyra's Hand of the Queen. He accepted, and this week he'll be back on Dragonstone:

We'll also check in on Corlys' granddaughter Rhaena, who is in the Vale minding Rhaenyra's younger sons:

In King's Landing

Finally we come to King's Landing, where the pictures have me nervous. King Aegon is at death's door following the Battle of Rook's Rest, and he's getting a parade of visitors. One of the more unexpected is Master of Whisperers Larys Strong:

What are you up to, Larys? I don't trust you! How can you not be suspicious of a guy shot in silhouette like this?

But I'm way more nervous about Aegon's visit from his brother Aemond, who's a big part of the reason he's in this sickbed in the first place:

I am uncomfortable. I hope there's a guard standing a foot out of frame to make sure nothing untoward happens.

At some point, Alicent Hightower will try to talk sense into her one-eyed, power-mad son, but I imagine that's like trying to teach a rock to dance, or to teach calculus to a thimble. It's very difficult, is what I'm saying.

This moment looks like it comes during or after a Small Council meeting featuring Alicent, Aemond, Criston Cole, and Lord Jasper Wylde as minimum:

I'm guessing Alicent will have an easier time talking to her brother Gwayne, who looks suited up for battle again:

The next episode of House of the Dragon airs on HBO and Max this Sunday night at 8:00 p.m. CST.

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