During a royal hunt in the Baglun Forest, Corban becomes separated from the rest of the beaters. He and another boy, Farrell, wander deeper into the forest and stumble upon a wolven pack. Corban spots cubs and recognizes the mother wolven as one he saved from a bog. She seems to recognize him, too, stopping the wolven pack from attacking.

A hunting party led by Evnis arrives, and a battle ensues. The hunters kill all the adult wolven but suffer heavy losses; Evnis’s son, Vonn, is left with a broken leg. Enraged, Evnis kills the mother wolven and tramples her cubs, leaving only one alive. Corban instinctively saves the last cub, and when Evnis orders him to put it down, he refuses and invokes “King’s Justice.”

Nearly a month after the council, Kastell travels with King Romar, who reveals that he believes the prophecies and plans to attack the Hunen giants with King Braster of Helveth. Romar says he will need leaders like Kastell and Maquin in the coming dark times, leaving Kastell stunned but encouraged.

That evening, Jael sends their party to a stream, where they are ambushed. Kastell is nearly killed before a group of Sirak warriors emerges and slaughters the attackers. When Romar and Jael arrive, Maquin stops Jael from attacking the Sirak, explaining they are allies. Romar recognizes their leader, Temel, from the council and invites them to camp.

Later, Kastell thanks Bodil, the Sirak who saved him. Maquin shows Kastell a pouch he took from an attacker containing gold coins with Isiltir’s crest, implying Jael hired the assassins.

On the ride back to Dun Carreg, Farrell asks about King’s Justice, and Corban explains it is an ancient law Brina told him about, allowing a case to be judged only by the king. Queen Alona will now decide the cub’s fate. As Dun Carreg comes into view, a storm gathers.

That evening, Corban arrives home with the wolven cub and is immediately summoned before Queen Alona. Cywen follows him to the feast-hall, where their parents and Gar are waiting.

Evnis arrives, reporting Vonn is injured but alive. He accuses Corban of defiance, but Marrock suggests the wolven only attacked to protect their cubs. Corban explains he saved the mother wolven previously and rescued the cub to protect an innocent. He proposes to raise it like a hound; Marrock supports the risky idea.

Queen Alona grants the request, making Thannon responsible and stipulating that the animal must be destroyed if it ever harms a person. Later, at their home, the family hound Buddai accepts the cub. As a storm breaks, Corban names her Storm.

At a tense meal in Ripa, Veradis’s father, Lamar, blames him after Nathair almost sits in his deceased mother’s chair. Nathair recounts the council’s God-War prophecy, and Ektor asks about Meical’s eye color. Lamar calls Nathair arrogant, leading Veradis to demand an apology. Lamar dismisses him. The next morning, Veradis accuses his father of nearing treason, and they part on strained terms.

Naithar’s warband leaves Ripa, and that night, he and Veradis ride to meet the Vin Thalun counsellor, Calidus, and his master, Lykos. Nathair reveals he believes he is the Bright Star from prophecy, chosen by Elyon. He proposes a blood-oath, and they swear loyalty to each other.

Inside the ruins, they meet Calidus, the giant Alcyon, and Lykos. Lykos reveals that he has dreamed for decades of serving Nathair and pledges the loyalty of the unified Vin Thalun and their fleet.

A ten-night after the hunt, Brina sends Corban to collect herbs to heal Vonn. When he returns to Brina’s cottage, Evnis’s guard prods Storm with a spear. Brina intervenes, calling Corban her apprentice. She tells Corban that her crow Craf can speak because, before the Scourging, people were Elementals who could communicate with animals and use the elements to make magic.

Later, Corban, Cywen, and Dath go to the cliffs. Dath points out a cursed cave he fears to enter. When Storm wanders inside, Corban and Cywen follow. They discover a magical glamour concealing a vast hidden chamber. Ascending a spiral staircase, they find the headless carcass of a white wyrm and a secret door leading into Dun Carreg’s well-house. They close the door and sneak into the courtyard, hiding when they hear voices.

As Camlin recovers in his cell, King Brenin interrogates him. He confirms Braith is his lord but refuses to betray him or his contact inside the fortress. Later, during Camlin’s daily walk outside, hooded figures attack, killing one guard and wounding Marrock. As an attacker moves to kill Marrock, Corban and Cywen appear, shouting for them to stop. Camlin’s rescuer is revealed to be Braith, who intends to kill the children until Camlin intervenes.

They take Marrock hostage instead, and Braith makes a deal with Corban: his and Cywen’s silence for Marrock’s release at sunrise. As they escape, Braith confirms Camlin kept their contact inside the fortress secret, hinting at powerful friends who will aid their escape.

In Jerolin’s stables, Veradis and Nathair admire a white stallion gifted to Nathair by Jael of Isiltir. Nathair reports to Aquilus that Tenebral’s barons are loyal. Aquilus plans to send Nathair’s warband to aid his allies, providing combat experience. Nathair volunteers to lead a campaign to Tarbesh against the giants; Aquilus agrees to decide after seeing them train.

Aquilus then confronts Nathair about recent Vin Thalun raids that conveniently targeted only realms opposing the new alliance. Nathair denies involvement and suggests that King Mandros could be the Black Sun. Enraged, Aquilus questions his son’s loyalty and orders him to sever ties with the Vin Thalun. Nathair outwardly agrees.

The morning after Camlin’s escape, a worried Corban is distracted during his training with Gar. The fortress buzzes with news of the escape and Marrock’s disappearance. At Brina’s cottage, a recovering Vonn taunts Corban. Their exchange is interrupted by a guard’s shout announcing the search party’s return, with Marrock alive among them.

Veradis and Nathair’s warband sails for Tarbesh on Vin Thalun ships. Veradis recalls Nathair winning his father’s approval for the campaign with new shield-wall tactics, only to ignore his parents’ warnings by secretly rendezvousing with Lykos’s fleet. On board, Nathair reveals his plan: After defeating the giants at Tarbesh, he will find Telassar, the fabled hidden city of the Jehar, Elyon’s warriors who are sworn to fight for the Bright Star, and recruit them.

Lykos, Calidus, and the giant Alcyon join them on deck. Alcyon reveals that the Shekam giants of Tarbesh ride draigs (dragons) and employ Elementals; he and Calidus offer their own Elemental powers to help the warband. After five more nights, they land in Tarbesh and march inland, leaving Lykos and the fleet behind.

Marrock returns, and Corban is relieved to know that Braith kept his word. Marrock tells Corban he is in his debt. He explains that King Brenin and Pendathran know of their involvement but are sworn to secrecy. Marrock also reveals that Braith was the man who killed his father, Rhagor.

A ten-night later, Corban takes Storm to the Rowan Field and is confronted by Rafe and Glyn. Rafe attacks, but Corban trips him. Halion intervenes, and Tull arrives, ending the confrontation by reminding everyone of the Queen’s judgment regarding Storm. As they prepare to spar, Storm protectively latches onto Halion’s calf, and Corban shows that he is teaching Storm the “Friend” command. Nearby, they see Halion’s brother Conall viciously humiliating Glyn in a spar. Halion confronts him, but Conall angrily defends his actions.

Nearly two ten-nights after landing in Tarbesh, Nathair’s warband is still looking for the Shekam giants. Calidus and Alcyon use their powers and report that the giants have crossed miles north. The warband rides through the night, and at dawn, they spot the giants approaching in a magical mist. Alcyon uses his Elemental powers to dispel the mist and reveal giants mounted on draigs.

Veradis leads a cavalry charge, firing spears before retreating to form a shield wall. Most draigs turn to meet Nathair’s charge, but a few break through the shield wall, inflicting heavy casualties. The giant foot soldiers then attack. Alcyon saves Veradis, and the battle is won as Nathair’s cavalry routs the remaining Shekam. The victorious warriors begin chanting Nathair’s name.