Veradis leads Nathair’s warriors to Halstat to join Kings Braster and Romar against the Hunen giants. At a war council, Veradis defends killing Mandros, but Romar objects, stating only kings may judge kings. Romar vows to demand an inquiry after the campaign, noting that Brenin of Ardan shares his concerns. Vandil, leader of the Gadrai, reports the Hunen are raiding for iron to arm for the God-War. Alcyon offers to lead the army to Haldis, the giants’ sacred burial ground, where the giants are retrenching.

The combined force of nearly 4,000 marches. Maquin and Kastell, now Gadrai, greet Veradis, whom they met when visiting Jerolin. Kastell mentions that Romar seeks a stolen giant axe, and Calidus overhears and is interested.

The army camps at the forest edge. The next morning, Calidus calls Romar a “divisive thorn,” and the Jehar leader Akar suggests killing him, filling Veradis with foreboding.

Queen Alona’s party is ambushed. Red-cloaked attackers fire from the trees as the Ardan warriors form a shield wall around Queen Alona, Edana, and Cywen. One Ardan rider breaks through and escapes, swaying in his saddle. A voice shouts to take the women alive. Cywen hurls a knife, killing an attacker.

Soon, only Tull and four others, including Ronan, remain. Tull devises a plan: He and two warriors will create a diversion while Ronan and Ised lead the women to safety. As Tull’s group charges, Cywen throws another knife, saving him from a blow to his back. Ronan grabs Cywen’s hand, and they flee.

During the chaos, Camlin, who is with Braith and the red-cloaked attackers, recognizes Cywen from his time as a prisoner at Dun Carreg. The chief of the other warriors, Scar, shouts that the women are escaping. The last Ardan defenders fall, leaving Tull wounded but defiant.

Tull recognizes the leader with the scar as Rhin’s first-sword, Morcant. He realizes Rhin orchestrated the ambush and challenges Morcant to buy time for the others. Morcant orders Braith to shoot. Braith’s arrows incapacitate Tull, who falls to his knees. Morcant then kills him. Camlin looks away, thinking the courageous warrior deserved a better death. The band pursues the escapees into the forest.

From Uthandun’s battlements, Evnis watches Alona’s party enter the forest. He casts a glamour to disguise himself and, in a red cloak, passes as one of Owain’s men. He kills the guard at Prince Uthan’s door and slits the heir’s throat.

He changes into a grey cloak and casts another glamour, assuming Marrock’s face. He walks past Owain’s guards, ensuring “Marrock” is seen leaving, and then reverses the spell. His son Vonn waits with horses. Evnis points to a rider approaching from the forest and sends Vonn to tell Pendathran that Alona was attacked. Evnis plans to take the rider to Brenin, orchestrate an evacuation, and frame Owain for the attack.

Corban and Gar find Tull’s body and discover that the women are not among the dead; Gar finds a trampled track showing they escaped or were captured. Pendathran arrives and splits his force: He will return to Uthandun to protect Brenin, while Marrock leads a rescue party.

Corban insists on going with Marrock to find Cywen and offers to use Storm to track her. Pendathran agrees. Gar and Corban arm themselves with swords from the dead. Marrock selects a dozen men, including Halion and Conall. Corban tells Storm to seek Cywen, and the wolven leads them into the forest.

Alona’s party flees through the Darkwood. Ronan tells Cywen to stay close, and she kisses his cheek. Attackers surge from the trees, and Morcant and Braith appear. Braith suggests sparing Ronan to send a message to Brenin, but Morcant kills him.

Enraged, Cywen attacks Morcant with her last knife, but it glances off his chainmail. Morcant clubs her and orders the women bound.

The attackers make camp, tying the three captive women to a tree. Uneasy that Braith defers to their new chief, Scar, Camlin confronts him. Braith reveals Scar is Morcant, Queen Rhin’s champion, and that he, Braith, has always served Rhin. Their mission is to spark war between Ardan, Brenin’s kingdom, and Narvon, Romar’s kingdom, so that Rhin can conquer them both. Braith offers Camlin a place in Rhin’s service, warning that the alternative is destruction. Camlin, refusing to be party to killing women, discards his red cloak.

At dawn, Camlin gives the captives water. Morcant confronts him. Annoyed by Cywen’s defiance and learning that she is a commoner, Morcant declares her a useless burden and orders her killed. Camlin intervenes, shattering the executioner’s spear with his sword. Morcant smiles and draws his own blade.

Following Storm, Corban’s rescue party finds Ronan’s body and evidence that the women were captured alive. They find the captors’ camp and wait until dawn to attack. They attack just as Morcant prepares to kill Cywen.

Gar fights with deadly skill. A warrior gets past him, but a distraction from Storm gives Corban an opening to make his first kill. He sees Camlin fighting to protect the women and cutting their ropes. Braith and Morcant retreat. Corban frees Cywen.

When Marrock threatens Camlin, Alona cries out that he saved them. Just then, a warning is shouted as an arrow strikes Alona in the back. Marrock carries her and flees with the others, Camlin among them.

The escapees fashion a litter for Alona. They realize they are being followed, but the pursuers turn out to be Halion and Conall. Camlin explains Rhin’s plot to start a war. Brina’s crow, Craf, appears and leads them to the giantsway, where they meet King Brenin’s party.

Emotional reunions follow, but Queen Alona soon dies from her wound. Brenin sends a messenger to Owain, explaining Rhin’s treachery, and orders a war muster.

Two ten-nights later at Dun Carreg, Halion petitions for Corban to take his warrior trial early so he can join the army. Corban agrees. Brenin names Halion his new first-sword. He then reveals that Owain murdered his messenger and sent back the man’s severed head. Declaring war on Narvon and then Cambren, his speech is interrupted by horns announcing a ship from Tenebral.

Eight nights into Forn Forest, Kastell, Maquin, and the Gadrai scout ahead of the allied army. The Hunen have vanished, presumably to defend their stronghold, Haldis. He sees his uncle Romar, who reveals Aquilus’s murder and asks Kastell to use his friendship with Veradis to spy on Nathair’s new regime in Tenebral. Kastell refuses unless Romar explains past insults about his father, which Romar will not do.

That night, Veradis finds Kastell and Maquin, warning them as friends to be on guard. He reveals Romar is making an enemy of Nathair and advises them to find a new lord before leaving abruptly. Maquin remarks that it sounds like trouble.

Consumed by grief for Ronan, Cywen watches the Tenebral ship arrive. The newcomers are led by the handsome King Nathair and a wild-looking warrior, Sumur. Later, a grieving Edana asks Cywen to accompany her to speak with Brenin. They find him meeting with Evnis and Heb when Nathair and his retinue arrive.

Nathair offers aid, but Brenin explains he is now at war with Rhin and explains her treachery. Nathair then reveals his true purpose: seeking information on Meical, who disappeared after Aquilus’s murder. Brenin admits that Meical visited briefly but claims ignorance of his whereabouts. Nathair asks him to find out who Meical spoke with. Cywen realizes they are discussing the secret visitor to her home. After Nathair leaves, Brenin expresses his distrust and orders his advisors to be cautious.