The latest episode of House of the Dragon season 3 reveals the motive behind Ulf the White's infamous betrayal of Queen Rhaenyra, one of the pivotal moments adapted from George R.R. Martin's Fire & Blood. The episode centres on Ormund Hightower's scheming to undermine Rhaenyra's rule after the Blacks seized King's Landing, including his capture of the town of Tumbleton, which he uses as a shield against dragon attack while he works to turn both smallfolk and dragonriders against the queen. This sets up a major twist expected to shape next week's season finale.

Ormund identifies Ulf the White, one of Rhaenyra's newly acquired dragonriders and rider of Silverwing, as an easy target because Ulf has long felt disrespected and undervalued by Rhaenyra's court despite his importance to her claim on King's Landing. Ulf lacks noble manners, resents being given only a knighthood rather than greater status, and is spotted by Daemon Targaryen in circumstances that expose his vulnerability to Ormund's manipulation. With the Greens short of usable dragons (Vhagar and Aemond missing, Sunfyre and Aegon presumed dead, Tessarion too young), turning a rider like Ulf becomes a crucial strategy for Ormund to weaken Rhaenyra ahead of an anticipated battle over Tumbleton.