Cywen goes home. She hears quiet voices and spies on a secret meeting between her parents, Gar, and Meical. Meical reveals King Aquilus’s murder, blaming Mandros but suspecting that Asroth was behind it. As soon as it happened, he came to check on Corban. Gwenith fears Meical was followed, reminding him of his promise to stay away.

Meical states that Corban will eventually go to Drassil, the ancient fortress that features in the prophecies, with them. Thannon recounts how he and Gar have prepared Corban, and Gar confirms the boy excels with weapons. Meical explains that Corban’s childhood nightmares were Asroth searching for him in the spirit world—a search that was thwarted. Approving of Storm as another guardian, Meical says Corban can learn the truth after his Long Night, which marks his passage to being a full warrior. Before leaving to see King Brenin, he warns them to trust no one but Brenin himself.

Returning from Brina’s, Corban meets the trader Ventos, whom he has met before, on the road. Ventos has heard tales of a young warrior who tamed a wolven but didn’t know it was Corban. He introduces his hunting hawk, Kartala, won from the Sirak. As they part, Meical rides past on his stallion, giving Corban a fierce look before spurring his horse on.

At dawn, Ventos leaves the roundhouse. From a hidden chest, he retrieves parchment and writes a message, which he encases in a small roll. He summons his hawk, Kartala, who swoops onto his gloved arm. Ventos ties the message to her leg and sends her into the mist.

Gundul’s forces attack his father Mandros’s army from the rear, turning the battle. Veradis pursues Mandros, who escapes into the woods, and corners and wounds the king. Recalling Nathair’s order for “a life for a life” (407), yet warned by Peritus against kingslaying, Veradis hesitates. To silence Mandros’s claim that Nathair murdered Aquilus, Veradis kills him and orders Rauca to take the head.

Gundul declares himself king and announces peace with Tenebral. Peritus leverages this to secure safe passage from Mandros’s cousin, who privately warns Veradis about being a kingslayer. They meet a relief force led by Veradis’s brother, Krelis, who praises him. Returning to Jerolin, Veradis throws the sack with Mandros’s head at Nathair’s feet. The giant Alcyon then arrives and presents Nathair with a shimmering draig egg.

Corban trains Dath and Cywen with practice swords. Cywen watches Corban strangely, as if wanting to say something. Later, Corban and Dath watch Rafe complete his warrior tests. Corban sees Farrell in the crowd and apologizes for stepping in when Farrell was bullied, and Farrell accepts.

Rafe takes his oath and tosses his old practice sword to Crain. At home, Corban finds Gwenith crying over old keepsakes. She says time passes too quickly, and she loves him.

The draig egg hatches. Nathair bonds with the newborn by feeding it. He convenes a Council of War with his inner circle: Veradis, Lykos, Calidus, and Alcyon, with Peritus also present. Nathair orders all warriors to learn the shield wall under Veradis’s supervision. He plans to build a larger fleet and reveals that his dreams urge him to find the cauldron.

Calidus explains the lore of the Seven Treasures, forged from a starstone, and locates the cauldron in Murias, a giant fortress. Nathair muses that an empire is more practical than alliances.

Nathair sends Peritus for news from a messenger. With him gone, Nathair asks about the missing Jehar and Meical. Calidus reports that Meical was seen at Dun Carreg. Nathair decides to lead the aid to Ardan to investigate.

Horns announce a large host: The Jehar have arrived. Sumur, their lord, leads over 1,000 warriors. They kneel, pledging themselves to Nathair, the Seren Disglair.

Pendathran’s warband returns from the Darkwood with heavy casualties. Ronan recounts how Conall’s charge turned the battle to their favor, and he and Halion saved a wounded Pendathran. Gethin, Evnis, and Uthan arrived late; Evnis’s men claimed credit, though the battle was nearly over.

Three moons later, Corban finds Rafe and Crain beating Farrell. Corban intervenes, telling his friend Bethan to hold Storm. He attacks the bullies, but Rafe draws his real sword and cuts Corban’s arm. Crain strikes Corban from behind. As Rafe prepares a killing blow, Storm disobeys Corban, savagely mauling Rafe’s arm. Horrified, Corban sends Bethan for help, then grabs Storm and flees Dun Carreg.

Kastell, Maquin, and their captain Orgull patrol the river, guarding a merchant barge. Kastell feels at home with the Gadrai. Two wyrms attack the barge as giants ambush the patrol. Outnumbered, Orgull orders a retreat. Vandil, Lord of the Gadrai, arrives with a relief patrol. For the first time, they capture a giant alive.

At the Gadrai fortress, Vandil tortures the captive. He learns the giants needed the iron on the barge to forge weapons. When asked for what war, the giant replies in the Common Tongue: the God-War.

Camlin and the remnants of Braith’s crew struggle through the Darkwood. Braith leads them to a winter shelter in a village, declaring that vengeance is their new purpose. He leaves for a few days, appointing Camlin temporary chief.

Braith returns on the fourth day with a score of grim, well-armed recruits. He tells a suspicious Camlin the situation is complicated but to remember one word: vengeance.

Corban runs with Storm to the Baglun forest, where he realizes he must leave her for her own safety. When she tries to follow, he desperately drives her away. Thannon finds him on the road and takes him to King Brenin.

At a hearing, Brenin rules Storm behaved like a hound protecting her master. Since she is gone, he decides to take no action unless she returns but gives Evnis permission to hunt the wolven. For acting dishonorably, Rafe’s sword and spear are taken from him. Brenin warns Corban to stay near the fortress in case anyone seeks retribution.

Three moons pass. Evnis’s hunt for Storm fails. Brenin’s court travels to Narvon for Uthan and Kyla’s handbinding. Corban rides alongside Brina, who reveals that her crow, Craf, has told her a white wolven is secretly tracking their party.

Brenin’s court arrives at Uthandun, the capital of Narvon. Corban worries about Storm, so Brina sends her crow Craf to watch the wolven.

King Brenin’s company camps in a dell outside the fortress. Corban sits by the fire with his family, Gar, Brina, and Farrell, who has become a quiet companion. Heb the loremaster joins them, complaining that Evnis is trying to arrange a match between his son Vonn and Princess Edana. Thannon promises Corban they will begin forging his first real sword upon their return home.

Cywen is uneasy at Uthandun, despite a growing romance with Ronan. A riding party forms to tour the Darkwood, and when King Brenin and King Owain are detained, Queen Alona, Edana, Cywen, Tull, and their soldiers proceed without them. Vonn confides to Cywen and Edana that he is glad not to be matched with the princess, as he loves another.

As they ride out, Alona asks Cywen about Corban. Cywen defends him, saying Storm’s punishment was unfair, as Rafe drew his sword first. Tull praises Corban’s exceptional sword skill and deep courage. Their guide leads them into a sunlit glade to rest. As they enter the clearing, the first arrow strikes.