Nathair, Veradis, Calidus, and the giant Alcyon leave the rest of their men behind and embark on a search for Telassar, a fortress hidden by a magical glamour. At their campfire, Nathair expresses a desire to ride a draig, and Alcyon swears an oath to find him an egg. Calidus describes the Jehar as fanatical warriors awaiting the God-War and suggests that Nathair, as a Giant-Friend and aspiring Draig-Rider, is the prophesied Bright Star, or Seren Disglair, whom they will support.

The next day, they find the passage through the glamour into a hidden vale. A Jehar patrol, stunned when Nathair announces he is the Seren Disglair, escorts them to their lord, Sumur. Nathair’s voice booms with unnatural power as he speaks of the prophecy. Calidus then reveals that he is one of the Ben-Elim, one of Elyon’s battle angels, unfurling great white wings. Awestruck, Sumur kneels and pledges the Jehar’s allegiance.

Feeling ostracized even in his home in Mikil, Kastell learns from Maquin that Jael is spreading rumors that he is behind the theft of the starstone axe. Maquin again urges him to join the Gadrai, the warriors who defend against giants, but Kastell feels obligated to accept King Romar’s request that he co-lead an anti-Hunen campaign with Jael.

Later, Kastell attempts to make peace with Jael, who mocks him and alludes to his father’s past transgressions. When Jael threatens Maquin, Kastell attacks. Jael’s men intervene, and one stabs Kastell in the back. Jael lets Kastell go, certain that King Romar will now deal with him.

Instead, Kastell finds Maquin and announces that he is ready to join the Gadrai. He has already secured a sealed letter from a disappointed Romar for the Gadrai’s leaders.

Months after Edana’s revelation, Corban halters his colt for the first time. Vonn, Helfach, and Rafe arrive with Helfach’s hound, Braen. After they taunt Corban, he sends Cywen away with Storm. Enraged, Helfach orders Braen to attack. The hound tackles Corban and bites his arm, but as it lunges for his throat, Corban’s colt charges in, killing the hound with its hooves. Storm rushes back to stand guard over Corban. A devastated Helfach leaves, but Vonn apologizes and advises Corban to see Brina for his wound. Corban names his protective colt Shield.

Veradis and Nathair’s warband return to Jerolin. After an emotional reunion with King Aquilus and Queen Fidele, Nathair is cold toward Aquilus’s battlechief, Peritus.

Three moons later, Nathair arranges a sparring match where Veradis defeats the long-unbeaten weapons-master Armatus, Peritus’s friend. Nathair explains that the match was a political move against Peritus’s influence. Veradis urges Nathair to tell Aquilus he is the Bright Star, but Nathair refuses, fearing that his father won’t believe him.

Queen Fidele confronts Nathair about rumors of him using sorcery, giants, and the Vin Thalun in Tarbesh. He deflects, blaming Peritus, but Fidele sternly warns him to sever his illicit ties before the King discovers the truth.

Corban’s party, including Gar, Cywen, Dath, and Brina, travels with King Brenin’s retinue to a Midwinter gathering at the Ardan city of Badun. On the road, two mysterious riders join them.

At the fortress, Edana reports that King Owain of Narvon has arrived, but Queen Rhin of Cambren and King Eremon of Domhain have not. Brenin speaks with Lord Gethin, Evnis’s brother, the leader of Badun. Edana speculates that the newcomers have sought Sanctuary with Brenin.

The next day, Queen Rhin arrives with her champion, followed by a party from Domhain led by the warrior Rath, representing King Eremon.

Evnis sees his brother Gethin and feigns affection. He reflects on the power of his black stone necklace, believing it to be one of the Seven Treasures. He overhears Halion and Conall discussing their need to remain concealed. Evnis decides to inform Queen Rhin that the two people she is hunting have taken Sanctuary with King Brenin’s party.

On Midwinter’s Eve, Queen Rhin breaches protocol by insisting her champion, Morcant, sit at the high table. After Lord Gethin announces his daughter Kyla’s betrothal to King Owain’s son Uthan, Rhin confronts Brenin, demanding that he surrender the two people under his protection. Brenin refuses, so Rhin invokes the Court of Swords.

Brenin’s first-sword, Tull, faces Morcant in a long and brutal duel. In the end, Tull throws dirt in Morcant’s face, blinding him long enough to break his ankle. Brenin spares the defeated Morcant’s life, but Tull cuts his cheek as a final lesson.

On Midwinter’s Day, an anxious Veradis joins Nathair, Aquilus, Fidele, Peritus, Counselor Meical, and King Mandros on Jerolin’s battlements to watch the sky for the supposed blotting of the sun. A black shadow moves across the sun, and the air grows dramatically colder. As the sky darkens, Meical staggers and Nathair collapses, unconscious.

As the sun darkens, Corban collapses. He finds himself in the Otherworld, a misty, spirit version of the stone circle where they have gathered to watch the sun. A man with yellow eyes appears, asking Corban to help him. Corban fears the man and refuses to fight for him. Enraged, the man summons six dark, winged creatures, but a horn sounds and white-winged warriors descend to battle them.

A white-winged warrior with purple-tinged eyes grabs Corban, touches his temple, and he blacks out. Corban awakens in a cottage, surrounded by his friends and family. He learns he only fainted briefly but retains a fleeting memory of wings and purple eyes. Gar announces that the council is over, and Brenin is preparing to leave.

Nathair recovers, disappointed to have missed the eclipse, and resolves to tell his father he is the Bright Star. Before he can, however, King Aquilus and Meical confront him with the truth of his illicit alliance with the Vin Thalun. Furious, Aquilus declares his trust broken.

Nathair names the Vin Thalun Calidus as his spymaster, horrifying Aquilus and Meical. Aquilus sends Veradis to fetch King Mandros, hoping the prophecy will sway him to ally with them, then dismisses Meical to speak with Nathair alone.

Veradis brings Mandros to the study but is told to wait outside. Mandros soon leaves, pale and shaken. Hearing silence, Veradis bursts in to find Nathair stabbed. Orcus arrives, and they find King Aquilus’s body near the window, his throat cut.

On the journey home from Badun, Brina explains that the betrothal of Gethin’s daughter was a power play by him and Evnis to gain an ally. Back at home in Dun Carreg, Corban finds that his parents and Gar are unusually watchful.

While training, he sees Rafe and Crain bullying Farrell and intervenes. Storm’s presence forces the bullies to back down, though Rafe threatens a future reckoning. Farrell angrily rejects Corban’s help. Later, Corban sees Gar speaking with a tall, scarred man.

After Midwinter, Nathair’s army disembarks from Vin Thalun ships in Carnutan, Mandros’s kingdom. Following Aquilus’s murder and Mandros’s flight, Nathair planned a revenge campaign with Peritus in command. Nearly 3,000 warriors land for a surprise attack on Mandros’s fortress, Dun Bagul.

The next day, Veradis leads the vanguard across the river and is ambushed. His warband forms a shield wall, absorbing the charge and pushing to the far bank, but Veradis is wounded. As Mandros’s forces press their advantage, horns sound from a hill. Gundul, Mandros’s son, leads a charge against his own father’s army.