Gar repeats his offer to teach Corban to fight and control his fear. Corban accepts and agrees to meet him at sunrise.

That evening in the feast-hall, King Brenin announces he will leave the next day for a kings’ council in Jerolin called by High King Aquilus—the first in over 1,000 years. Queen Alona will rule in his absence, while Pendathran will lead a warband into the Baglun Forest to hunt Darol’s murderers.

Later, Corban overhears Gar warning his mother that something is coming, and they must be more vigilant.

Evnis recalls the tale of a hidden book that could prolong his wife Fain’s life long enough to reach a magical cauldron that can heal her. His huntsman, Helfach, finds a hidden door leading to a giant’s tomb. Inside, they find a casket with a book and a pulsing black stone.

A nearby boulder cracks open, hatching a white wyrm that kills a spearman before they can slay it. Evnis orders the tunnel sealed. He takes the wyrm’s head to King Brenin, lying that Helfach killed it in the Baglun Forest. Brenin decides to take the head to the council.

Evnis then asks to take Fain to a healer, but Brenin refuses, needing him to advise Queen Alona in his absence. Devastated, Evnis realizes he cannot get Fain to the cauldron.

Corban dreams of a yellow-eyed man who asks for his help in finding a cauldron to avert the coming God-War. He awakens at dawn for his first secret training with Gar, who has him perform strenuous exercises and teaches him slow, controlled movements.

Later, Corban and Cywen see Edana, who confides that Evnis wants her to wed his son, Vonn. They then overhear Queen Alona and Pendathran deny Evnis’s request to leave. Evnis accuses Alona of petty vengeance for her brother’s death.

A ten-night later, Marrock rides to the fortress and reports that Pendathran’s warband needs more warriors to patrol the forest border. Evnis leaves to arrange reinforcements.

Hunted by Pendathran’s warband, Camlin leads his dwindling crew through the Baglun Forest. He reflects on the mission’s failure: They raided a hold, but his man Goran killed the women and children, violating Camlin’s code and triggering painful memories. As a boy, Camlin saw raiders kill his family and burn their farm.

At dawn, Pendathran’s warband ambushes their camp. Camlin and Goran escape, but horsemen trick them into sheathing their swords. Goran is killed, and Camlin is stabbed and collapses.

During morning training, Gar gives Corban a practice sword. He explains that the slow movements he taught are the “sword dance,” a foundation for sword fighting.

Afterward, Thannon gifts Corban a colt, and while walking to see it, they see Pendathran’s warband returning from the Baglun Forest with heavy casualties. Halion and Conall are among the survivors.

Veradis observes the kings arriving for Aquilus’s council. King Mandros of Carnutan is skeptical when Aquilus announces a coming God-War, but other kings corroborate strange signs like weeping giant-stones and giant raids. King Brenin’s first-sword, Tull, dumps the white wyrm’s severed head on the table.

Queen Rhin argues Elyon has abandoned the world, but Aquilus’s counselor, Meical, counters that Asroth can still attack creation. Meical reads from an ancient book by the giant Halvor, which prophesies the war, its champions—the Black Sun and Bright Star—and a final sign: At Midwinter, day will become night.

Mandros storms out. Aquilus proposes an alliance, but only five kings agree. Later, Nathair confronts his father for excluding the Vin Thalun from the council, arguing that an empire is needed more than a weak alliance. After Meical intervenes, Nathair storms out.

Princess Edana sneaks Cywen and Corban into the fortress to eavesdrop on Queen Alona. They overhear Pendathran report that the other outlaws are dead, and the captive may not survive. They learn that the newcomers, Halion and Conall, fought fiercely and have a secret origin. Pendathran hopes the captive lives to confirm the attackers were Braith’s men.

Later, Corban, Cywen, and Edana go to see Corban’s new colt. They meet Dath on the road, who has been hit by his drunken father. At the paddock, Rafe taunts Corban, saying he will return Corban’s practice sword if he sneaks into the healer Brina’s cottage and steals a trophy. Despite his friends’ objections, Corban accepts.

Nathair rides from Jerolin with Veradis. He vents his frustration with his father but admits that he believes the God-War is real. They watch a column of giant ants devour a dog in seconds, and Nathair remarks they could build an army that fights as one, like the ants.

At the feast, Nathair begins to win over kings and barons. Queen Rhin explains she did not join the alliance because she is wary of Meical and notes that other kings have more pressing problems with Braith’s outlaws.

Afterward, Nathair tells Veradis the alliance will fail; an empire is the only way to unite the Banished Lands against Asroth.

Corban sneaks into Brina’s cottage and steals a bone comb but is discovered by Brina and her crow, Craf. Instead of punishing him, she sentences him to doing chores for her.

When Corban returns, Rafe refuses the comb and demands a fight. When Rafe hits Dath, Corban attacks. Rafe gets the upper hand until Cywen intervenes, throwing a knife at his feet.

The next morning, Gar counsels Corban on controlling his anger. At home, Corban lies to his mother, Gwenith, about his bruised face. Thannon sees through the lie and lectures him, prompting a full confession.

Thannon takes him to confront Rafe’s father, Helfach, meaning to show him how to use “the power of words” (167). When Helfach is insulting, Thannon knocks him unconscious. Evnis storms out, and Thannon apologizes for the violence.

Corban begins doing chores for Brina and learning about herbs. Brina mentions that Evnis’s wife, Fain, looks surprisingly well and that the captured outlaw is still alive. They agree that Corban will return every seventh night.

As the kings begin to return to their homes, Maquin warns Kastell that his conflict with his cousin Jael is dangerous. Veradis wishes them a safe journey, explaining his belief in the God-War stems from his trust in Aquilus and Nathair.

Shortly after Veradis leaves, Jael’s men ambush Kastell and Maquin. Outnumbered and beaten, they are saved when Veradis returns and stops the attack. A furious King Romar arrives, thanks Veradis, and summons his nephews to his tent.

Romar orders them to end their grudge, stating they are both important to his plans for Isiltir. Jael offers his hand in a forced reconciliation, satisfying Romar.

As they leave, Jael whispers to Kastell, “This is far from over” (177).

Corban confesses everything to his mother: his fight with Rafe, the dare, his chores for Brina, and his secret training with Gar. Moved by his honesty, Gwenith embraces him.

Later, Gar explains that Thannon’s use of violence has made Helfach an enemy. He tells Corban that on his upcoming 14th nameday, he can begin training in the Rowan Field and advises him to seek Halion as a trainer.

On Corban’s nameday, Thannon walks him to the Rowan Field. A warrior named Tarben welcomes him and is surprised by his skill. When Tarben leaves, Rafe confronts Corban, but Halion intervenes, and Rafe backs down.

Halion takes over Corban’s training. He spars with Corban, recognizing his unusual style, but Corban deflects questions about who trained him. Tarben returns to announce that Evnis’s wife, Fain, has died.

Proud of his new position as Nathair’s first-sword, Veradis rides with Nathair toward his home, Ripa. They camp near the ruins of Balara. That night, Veradis finds Nathair having a nightmare about finding a cauldron. Nathair wakes violently and confesses to recurring dreams of a voice urging him to find it. Recalling Meical mentioned a cauldron at the council, Veradis suggests they ask his learned brother, Ektor, when they arrive in Ripa.

At Ripa, Veradis is surprised to see a Vin Thalun galley at the docks. He is greeted warmly by his old weapons-master, Alben, and enthusiastically by his brother Krelis. In contrast, his father, Lamar, is formal and cool, dismissing Veradis until the next day.

A hurt Veradis sits with Alben, who explains that Lamar is proud but finds it painful to look at Veradis because he so strongly resembles his deceased mother. Alben recounts a childhood story to illustrate Lamar’s love, but Veradis remains unconvinced.