The second episode of HBO’s A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, titled “Hard Salt Beef,” unveils a cherished Targaryen figure from George R.R. Martin’s expansive lore.

**Spoiler Alert: Details from A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms Episode 2 “Hard Salt Beef” are discussed below. Now streaming on HBO Max.**

Prince Baelor “Breakspear” Targaryen, portrayed by Bertie Carvel, makes a timely entrance in Ashford, rescuing Ser Duncan the Tall (played by Peter Claffey) from seeing his tournament ambitions dashed. As the Prince of Dragonstone and successor to the Iron Throne, Baelor stands as the sole knight present who remembers Ser Duncan’s late mentor, Ser Arlan of Pennytree (Danny Webb). In a poignant exchange, described by Carvel as a “test” for Dunk, the formidable Targaryen embodies the series’ first genuine act of chivalry.

Set a century prior to the events of Game of Thrones, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms depicts an era where the Targaryens still reign, though their dragons have long vanished. This absence compels them to engage in the intricate politics of Westeros. A gathering of Targaryen royalty, including Prince Baelor, his offspring Valarr (Oscar Morgan), his brother Maekar (Sam Spruell), and Maekar’s son Aerion (Finn Bennet), converge in Ashford to interact with the realm’s noble houses.

The narrative follows the humble Ser Duncan the Tall and his young squire, Egg (Dexter Sol Ansell). Without witnesses to his knighthood, save for a solitary robin, Ser Duncan needs another knight to validate his and Ser Arlan’s status. Among the attendees, only Prince Baelor retains any memory of the departed hedge knight.

Prince Baelor remembers jousting against Ser Arlan years earlier, giving Dunk a green light to compete at the Tourney.

“I suppose the truth matters,” Bertie Carvel told DECIDER. “It’s also a test, though, that scene, isn’t it?”

“Although he’s a better host than his brother and although he has perhaps better manners, there is still a sense that one should not trespass too much on his hospitality.”

Baelor confirms he jousted against Ser Arlan at a tournament, but disagrees with Dunk’s assertion that they broke seven lances. It was only four.

“But yeah, the truth matters and he does remember and he remembers in detail and that’s who he is,” Carvel said. “And again, you know, these are heroic qualities in our day and age. How nice to be reminded that there are leaders for whom details matter and so does the truth.”

Prince Baelor Targaryen is particularly beloved amongst the hardcore A Song of Ice and Fire fandom precisely because of his “heroic qualities.” He has a fascinating backstory, dealing with the Blackfyre Rebellion and the addition of Dorne to the Seven Kingdoms. When DECIDER asked Bertie Carvel if he did a lot of research into Baelor’s history, he explained he preferred to focus on the scripts.

“I think in the story, the key thing is what you do from one moment to the next. So I’m more interested in the present tense than the past,” Carvel said. “What moves me about Baelor is that he doesn’t know before what he’s going to do. And that’s what keeps it dangerous and alive.”

“It’s so interesting hearing people talk about these stories as history and that these things are known. But in the moment that they happen, they’re not known. And that’s true of our world, too, isn’t it? Each of us has to decide from one minute to the next how we’re going to behave. That’s what gives our choices a moral dimension that we could go either way. That he chooses what we might regard as to do the right thing is moving precisely because he might not.” 

Carvel went on to explain that although he didn’t delve deep into Martin’s world for research, he was absolutely delighted that so many fans do just that.

“We all hold these stories in common, don’t we?” he said. “It takes an audience as well as an actor to make believe. Everybody has to kind of go with it.”

“I hope what I’ve done fits inside the palace that people have made for themselves with these wonderful stories already and enriches it in some way. And when they’re good stories, you usually find that it does.”