Istavan, staying at an inn owned by Milia, is tasked by a male spy with delivering a secret message to Mongaul before he dies. Caaslon realizes that Norisse was right about the Mongauli forces preparing to go to war, so he rejects Taeran's command to join in the battle and chooses to follow along with what Norisse has in store. With Beck and Scaal, along with their troops, trapped in the mountains, Remus himself prepares to lead the forces of Argos into battle. Meanwhile, Guin is attacked by an assassin from Kitai but easily manages to dispatch him. As Istavan leaves Milia for Mongaul, she soon is killed and he shortly becomes pursued.