The allied host advances on the Hunen burial ground, Haldis. A magical mist pours from a gateway into the mountain behind it, and the ground turns to a bog that swallows the vanguard. Alcyon and Calidus counter with their Elemental powers, solidifying the ground. A wyrm attacks and is slain by the Jehar. The Hunen’s glamour fails, revealing hundreds of attacking giants.

Veradis leads his warband, and they reach the cliff face, where Romar’s forces are battling the last giants. Veradis attacks from the rear, breaking them. The surviving giants flee into a tunnel, with Romar in pursuit. Alcyon, Calidus, and the Jehar follow Romar, telling Veradis to wait outside.

On his trial day, Halion gifts Corban a spear. An angry Conall announces he is joining Evnis’s hold. Corban excels in his trial, and King Brenin and Nathair’s party arrive to watch. Corban again sees a dark shadow around Nathair. Thannon presents Corban with a wolven-pommeled sword, and Corban takes his warrior oath.

During his Long Night vigil, Corban resolves not to flee with Gar but falls asleep, failing his watch. At dawn, a rider wakes him, warning that Badun has fallen and Owain’s army is near. Corban then sees Owain’s army advancing over the ridge.

Corban gallops for Dun Carreg, gathering Brina and her crow on his way. In Havan, he and Dath help rouse villagers. Pendathran leads a sortie to cover their retreat. Gar, his horse packed, helps them reach the fortress just as the gates are barred. In the courtyard, Gwenith and Cywen are also dressed for travel.

From the battlements, Brenin confronts Owain, who accuses him of murdering his son, Uthan. Owain demands the surrender of Brenin, Edana, and Pendathran. Brenin denies the charge, explaining Rhin’s betrayal, but Owain doesn’t believe him. Owain declares his intent to besiege them and throws Gethin’s severed head on the ground.

Two nights into the siege, Cywen chafes that boys are allowed to fight while she is not. Brenin arrives at the stable looking for Gar, and Nathair arrives and presses Brenin about Meical. Brenin forbids him from speaking to Gar, and the conversation grows tense as Nathair alludes to a “new order,” and Brenin threatens an inquiry into Mandros’s death.

Horns signal the arrival of allied forces, led by Pendrathan’s son Dalgar, but his force is vastly outnumbered, and Owain’s soldiers keep Pendathran’s warriors from coming across the fortress’s bridge. Dalgar’s warband is routed, and Owain has Dalgar’s body thrown before the gate. Pendathran carries his son’s corpse back into Dun Carreg.

On the battlements, Corban and Dath discuss their hopeless situation. Dath mentions hearing bestial noises from Nathair’s ship, and Corban remembers the secret tunnels. In the feast-hall, Rafe challenges Corban to a Court of Swords, arguing Corban broke the King’s edict by bringing Storm back. A drunken Brenin permits the duel to first blood. Realizing a loss could mean Storm’s death, Corban accepts.

As Nathair enters, Corban sees the shadow around him more clearly than ever. Controlling his anger, Corban fights with focus and quickly defeats Rafe. After Brenin affirms that the matter is settled, Corban rebukes Brenin for his indifference to his daughter’s life and her rescuers.

Deep in the tunnels of Haldis, Kastell and the survivors are ambushed by a wyrm and giants. A brutal battle erupts. Kastell is nearly killed but saved by Vandil; Maquin is wounded. Alcyon, Calidus, and the Jehar arrive, killing the remaining giants. Romar orders a barred door opened.

Evnis is enraged that Owain killed his brother Gethin, robbing him of his triumph. He reflects on manipulating Nathair. A voice he knows as Asroth commands him to act. He notes the valerian slipped into Brenin’s mead has worked and reflects on turning Conall against Halion by preying on his jealousy. His messenger returns via the tunnels with black-clad warriors, whom Evnis leads toward Stonegate to begin his betrayal.

From the battlements, Cywen sees Evnis and hidden warriors in the courtyard below. Marrock shouts a warning, but Evnis’s men slaughter the gate guards. From her vantage point, Cywen throws her knives, killing four attackers. She sees the gates opened from within and Owain’s army streaming across the bridge. Conall confronts her on the stairs. She attacks him, and in the struggle, he slips from the battlement’s edge, pulling Cywen down with him into the courtyard.

Evnis bursts into the feast-hall, announcing Stonegate has been breached. The hall erupts in confusion. Marrock bursts in, bloodied, shouting that Evnis is a traitor who has opened the gates. One of Nathair’s eagle-guards puts his sword to Brenin’s chest, and Camlin reaches for an arrow.

Brenin orders Halion to protect Edana. Nathair justifies his betrayal, calling himself Elyon’s chosen, the Bright Star. Evnis and Sumur assault Brenin. Camlin shoots the guard holding Brenin, and a battle erupts. Sumur kills Pendathran. Thannon charges to save the king, but Evnis stabs Brenin.

Helfach and Rafe attack Corban; Storm kills Helfach. Thannon breaks through to Nathair’s shield wall, but Nathair kills him. Enraged, Gar charges Nathair, killing his captain, Rauca. Sumur recognizes Gar as a Jehar sword-brother, but Gar rejects him. They duel until Owain’s warriors flood the hall. Gar regroups with the survivors. Corban reveals his knowledge of a secret tunnel, and Halion leads them from the hall.

Kastell and the other survivors enter a cavern of skeletal giant warriors. On a stone throne, a giant corpse holds a dark-metal axe. Alcyon identifies it as Dagda’s axe, one of the Seven Treasures, and Calidus claims it for Nathair as payment for their aid. When a furious Romar objects, saying it is his, Alcyon kills him with it. The Jehar then slaughter Romar’s men. Jael confronts Kastell, declares he is claiming his throne, and runs him through.

Corban and the others flee through the fortress. Brina and Heb conjure a mist to slow their pursuers. Corban leads them to the secret tunnel. Vonn, swearing loyalty to Ardan despite his father, joins them. Marrock reports seeing Cywen fall from the battlements. Gar vows to return for her after Corban is safe.

In the tunnels, a wyrm attacks. Storm intercepts it, and Farrell kills it with Thannon’s hammer. They all go through the magical glamour that hides the exit and emerge at the beach. They all get in Dath’s father’s fishing boat and sail out. Passing Nathair’s ship, they hear a monstrous roar from its hold.

At dawn, Corban gives Thannon’s hammer to Farrell, who wielded it during their escape. Halion reveals that he is the son of King Eremon of Domhain, born outside of marriage, and he plans to take Edana there for safety. Corban looks back across the water at Dun Carreg, which is burning. He weeps for his father and sister.