House of Dragons Season 2, Episodes 1-4 spoilers ahead. In the world of Game of Thrones, we have a soft spot for bastards and broken things. This affinity continues in the prequel series House of Dragons, which returns for a second season in June 2024. In addition to setting up the early battles of House Targaryen's civil war, known as the "Dance of the Dragon," the series also features the common folk who live in King's Landing and Driftmark. This may have come as a surprise to TV fans, but readers of author George R. R. Martin's "Fire and Blood" series know that there are no truly random scenes in this heavy fantasy series. (1]

"GoT" featured Jon Snow and Ellaria Sand (ignoring Ramsey), while "HotD" features Dragon Seed, many of whom have already been introduced before the fourth episode of season two. These men (and eventually women) are set to play important roles in the battle for the Iron Throne, even if they are not all introduced within Season 2. Read on for an introduction to the dragon seeds we have encountered so far in the "House of Dragons," including additional information from "Fire and Blood.

In the days of Westeros, when dragons roamed the skies and Targaryens reigned on the throne, "dragon seed" was a term for a bastard of Valyrian descent. A dragonseed was a child of Valyrian lineage who rode a dragon, generally a child fathered or mothered by a Targaryen or Velaryon. Not all children of Valyrian blood inherit the skill to ride dragons, but a significant number do. Because the ability to ride dragons is passed down by blood (check out "Why Valyrians Can Ride Dragons" for a fun and miserable time), a dragon seed does not need to be formally claimed by the family to be able to ride dragons.

Being a Dragon Seed is dangerous any time before Robert's Rebellion. As Woolf says, "When the white cloaked guards are not around, the Dragon Seed must watch his own neck." But now that dragons are the most valuable weapons of war, the dragon seed could become indispensable.

Here are just a few.

Early in Season 2, we meet brothers Adam (Clinton Liberty) and Arin (Abubakar Salim), who grew up in the drift-marked town of Hal. Remember when Corliss Velarion (Steve Toussaint) was thought to be dead after the battle at Stepping Stones? It turns out that it was Arin who saved him, and as his brother Adam hinted in episode 2, that is not the only connection between them and the Sea Snakes. In episode 4, Léanis (Eve Best) largely admitted that Arin and Adam were Corliss's bastards, adding that Corliss should reward Arin for saving his life. She also mentions that the two do not need to hide in the shadows, which is strong foreshadowing.

In "Fire and Blood," it is confirmed that Arryn and Adam are of Velaryon blood, but it is unclear whether they are Rainer (John McMillan) or Corliss' sons. The passage reads, "No one who saw them could doubt that Adam and Arin were Dragon Seeds. (Judging from Rainer's sexuality, it would seem that it would be either Corliss or his late brother Vermond on the show.) As for their Dragon Seed Heritage, in the second episode, Adam is his half-brother (...) ), there was a long shot of him admiring Seasmoke, Rainer's dragon, and there was a nice nod to him.

The White Wolf (Tom Bennett) is one of the residents of King's Landing, first seen in the crowd learning of the rat catchers' untimely deaths after the incident known as "blood and cheese". In episode 3, he reunites with Wolf at a tavern and tells his friends about his parents. According to Wolf, he is the bastard son of Balon the Brave and half-brother of Damon (Matt Smith) and the late King Vicerys (Paddy Considine). (In fact, Baelon was the heir to the Iron Wedge of Jayhaeris, but he died before his father, and Viserys was chosen king over Rhaenys by the Grand Council of Harrenhal.)

Ulf's friends did not believe him because he did not have white Targaryen hair, but Ulf pointed out that Rainira's son Jace (Harry Collett) was a brunette. He also names Jace the rightful heir to the Iron Throne, but when the usurper shows up at the brothel, he immediately toasts Aegon (Tom Glynn-Kearney). The House of the Dragon has yet to confirm the Wolf's parentage, but fans of "Fire and Blood" know that there is some truth to the nagging man's claims.

In the first episode of season two, one of the folks we meet is Hugh Hammer (Kieran Vieux), a blacksmith whose family is struggling with the Velarion blockade of Garrett. At first glance, he and his partner Kat (Elora Torchia) and their sick daughter seem to represent the many residents of King's Landing who face starvation. However, as evidenced by his unusual gray hair, Hammer is of Velaryon descent.

House of the Dragon has yet to reveal Hammer's lineage, but according to Fire and Blood, he is "the bastard son of a blacksmith" and has "hands so strong they are said to be able to twist iron bars." Although he had little training in the art of war, his size and strength made him a formidable adversary. His weapon of choice was the war hammer, with which he delivered crushing and killing blows."

As of Season 2, Episode 4, all of the Dragon Seeds in "House of Dragons" are male. However, the most powerful (or at least most beloved) dragonriders in the world of "Thrones" TV are women. Hopefully, they will appear sooner rather than later.