Harry awakens in the Homelander fort and requests a belt to replace her missing sash. She then rides out with Jack, Terim, Senay, and the small troop of soldiers to Senay’s village, Shpardith. Despite some concern from the soldiers, Senay insists that the Hillfolk and Outlanders will ride together as comrades. They are welcomed into the village by Senay’s father, the leader. When they leave again, 16 new Hill riders join them.

When they stop to rest the next day, they are joined by Kentarre, leader of the forest-dwelling archers known as the filanon. She’s accompanied by 100 archers and 20 hunting cats. Kentarre pledges her people’s support to Harry, explaining that they have waited for her for three weeks, forewarned of her coming by prophecy.

The group finally reaches Ritger’s Gap and sets up camp there. Harry sees the approaching army with her kelar, and realizes they will arrive the following day. At dawn, she sends the archers and the cats to the slopes overlooking the valley, while she and Jack face the approaching army. The battle begins, with Harry and her force holding the narrow pass, Gonturan glowing with power. 

As the tide temporarily turns in their favor, Jack orders a retreat to regroup. Then the demonic Northern commander riding a white stallion appears and stops Harry. They fight, and he nearly manages to knock her from her saddle before he turns away and she realizes he’s toying with her. When he leaves, his banner-bearer goes to follow, and Narknon attacks. She kills the banner-bearer and his horse, and the Northerners’ banner is trampled.

Harry nearly collapses after returning with Tsornin and Narknon to the other survivors. Though battered and shaken, Kentarre, Terim, Senay, and Jack are still standing. Kentarre confirms that the man on the white horse was Thurra, a powerful Northern wizard known for his cruelty and bloodlust. The others congratulate Harry on her ability to face him and live, but she believes she survived only because Thurra let her.

Suddenly, Richard arrives, having followed their trail to the battle after learning Harry was alive. He explains that her embrace of Hillfolk life has inspired him to reclaim their heritage, which he had previously rejected. When Harry announces they will try to hold the pass until Corlath can join them, everyone remaining, Hillfolk and Homelanders alike, pledges to stay and fight despite the grim odds.

As Thurra’s forces begin to regroup for another attack, Harry ascends the mountainside alone, drawn there by instinct. She then calls on Lady Aerin, raises Gonturan, and channels a flood of magical blue fire. She speaks words in the Old Tongue and brings the mountains down upon Thurra’s army in a cataclysm of fire, stone, and light. When the dust settles, the Gap is gone, replaced by a wasteland of blue-shot rubble. Jack, Richard, Terim, and Senay go to search for her, and find her collapsed in a clearing with Gonturan at her side. Jack sees a glimpse of red hair, and believes it’s Aerin’s spirit watching over her.

Harry dreams of Aerin, who tells her Corlath is waiting for her. When Harry wakes up, she learns that she magically leveled the pass and killed the enemy army. She tells the others that Corlath is winning his own battle and they will ride out to meet him the following day. When they return to the other survivors, both the Hillfolk and Homelanders cheer.

Harry and the others begin the journey to meet Corlath. The group is much smaller than they were when they arrived at the Gap and slower due to exhaustion and injuries. Along the way, Harry thanks Kentarre and the filanon for their help and suggests they return to their forest. Kentarre, however, insists they will accompany her to Corlath, declaring renewed loyalty to the Hills, and to Harry herself. Jack and Richard also tell Harry that they plan to follow her into Hill country, as they have no place left in the Homeland. She reluctantly agrees to their support.

They stop at Senay’s village, where they are welcomed with a celebratory feast. Harry is embarrassed by the praise and grand titles given to her, but enjoys the food and company. Senay’s father says he will ride with them as well to honor old ties to the king. They avoid the Homelander fort, and Jack says he will not return to his old post.

As they approach Corlath’s camp, Harry becomes increasingly anxious about the reception she will receive after defying orders. Despite her worries, she rides directly to Corlath’s tent. To her surprise, she notices he is wearing her sash. Corlath confesses that Luthe warned him she would do something, and he wore her sash in the hope she would return. When he asks if the Homelanders with her are her escort back to Istan, she confirms that they aren’t: She wants to stay in the Hills, as do they, and he agrees. 

Then, in front of the others, he formally proposes to her, and Harry accepts. To represent the betrothal, he keeps her sash, and she receives his to wear in turn. The camp then erupts in celebration. Corlath privately confesses to Harry that he loved her ever since he sent her off to train with Mathin. Harry says she loves him too, but was worried that her disobedience might have cost her Corlath’s love.

Amid the celebrations, Harry realizes she hasn’t seen Mathin. Corlath leads her to the healing tent, where she finds Mathin gravely wounded from the battle. She cries and, in desperation, calls on her kelar to save him. With Corlath’s help, she walks the length of the healing tent, touching the dying and critically wounded. Though the magical fire saps her strength, she succeeds in saving them. Corlath then carries her back to his tent to rest. When she wakes again, he reassures her that Mathin will recover, along with all the others she healed. He then kisses her.

Later, as the army prepares to return to the City, Jack and Richard struggle to manage their Hill horses while Harry rides circles around them.

Harry and Corlath return to the City two weeks after their victory, greeted by thousands of Hillfolk gathered to celebrate their wedding. The City is decorated with flowers, and the wedding ceremony is held in a courtyard outside Corlath’s palace, where crowds cheer, cling to rooftops, and scramble for traditional wedding cakes tossed by the king and queen. 

That night, Corlath begins to fulfill his promise to tell Harry the stories of Aerin. Gonturan is hung in the Great Hall opposite the king’s sword, as tradition allows only the king’s and queen’s swords to be displayed. After the wedding celebrations, most guests return home, but the filanon stay through the winter. 

In the spring, Richard marries Kentarre and joins the filanon in the west. Kentarre’s first child, a girl, is born two weeks before Harry has a son. Jack, meanwhile, is made a queen’s Rider. A year later, Harry gives birth to a red-haired daughter named Aerin Amelia. She makes plans to ride west to invite Sir Charles and Lady Amelia to the Naming. Jack agrees to accompany them, and at the last minute, Corlath joins as well, unwilling to be separated from Harry.

The group camps near Istan, and send Riders ahead with an invitation. To everyone’s surprise, Lady Amelia and Sir Charles return with them just hours later. Lady Amelia is overjoyed to see Harry again. After an awkward moment, Corlath and Sir Charles manage a handshake. It’s revealed that Charles had previously defended the actions of Jack and the other men, and investigated the Northern threat, ensuring that Damar was taken seriously back in the Homeland. This finally opens diplomatic relations between the Homeland and Damar.

Though Harry and Corlath continue to fulfill their royal responsibilities over the years, they spend their time exploring the City, visiting friends, or journeying north to Luthe’s valley with their children.