Chapter Summaries

Ramon, Xingar’s powerful slave trader, met with Baron Elderfried, who wanted to buy a Noldo noble girl for King Ulrich. After drugging Elderfried and learning the king’s secret, Ramon imprisoned him and prepared to intercept Fruuz’s returning group.

• Ramon described Xingar’s lawless slave market and his influence as the city’s wealthiest trader and self-proclaimed “Good Brother.”
• Elderfried pressed Ramon for news about Fruuz’s attempt to capture a Noldo noble girl, explaining that he wanted to present her to King Ulrich.
• Ramon confronted Elderfried about his insistence on a noble girl, and Elderfried admitted that Ulrich had blackmailed him for selling commoners into slavery.
• After Ramon drugged Elderfried’s wine, Elderfried revealed that a Noldo noble virgin’s blood could cure the king’s illness and that he planned to blackmail Ulrich for three hundred thousand denars.
• Ramon ordered his men to hold Elderfried for a ransom of ten thousand denars and prepared to intercept Fruuz’s group and its valuable captives.

Li Ang pursued Fruuz’s Xingar slave-catching party after they killed the guards at Seven Forks Fortress and set its beacon alight, risking a war between the Lionheart Kingdom and the Duchy of Dexia. Meanwhile, Ramon met Fruuz near Turdah Fortress and discovered that his wagons carried three captured Noldo maidens, including a noblewoman.

• Fruuz’s Xingar riders attacked the toll station at Seven Forks Fortress, killed its guards, captured the halberdier, and escaped as the beacon burned.
• Li Ang identified the attackers as Xingar slave catchers and led his cavalry after them, leaving the beacon alight to avoid provoking a worse misjudgment.
• Ryman arrived with the Lion Knight Order, mistook the attack for a possible invasion by the Bacchus Empire, and ordered the surrounding towns to prepare their defenses.
• Ramon led about three hundred of his men northwest and met Fruuz, who claimed his slave-catching expedition had brought in a valuable haul.
• Ramon inspected Fruuz’s wagons and found a captured Lion Territory halberdier, Noldo equipment, and three bound Noldo maidens, including one with violet eyes and an exquisite circlet.

Ramon killed Fruuz and used a dice game to bind the surviving Xingar riders to him, but Li Ang arrived before Ramon could take the Noldo maidens away. After Li Ang and Ramon negotiated unsuccessfully over the captives, Ramon proposed settling their dispute with a gamble, and Li Ang accepted.

• Ramon revealed that one of Fruuz’s Xingar riders was a former slave from Yaxing, who stabbed Fruuz to avenge the villagers Fruuz had abducted and sold.
• Ramon offered Fruuz’s surviving riders a dice gamble; the winners chose to kill the losers and join Ramon as his good brothers.
• Li Ang and Vendathir arrived with their cavalry, and Vendathir shot three horses in the head to warn Ramon’s men to stand down.
• Li Ang met Ramon between their forces and explained that the Noldo maidens were his ally’s family and that he had come to take them home.
• Ramon argued that surrendering the maidens would cost him a major profit and offered Li Ang an army instead, but Li Ang refused to leave the maidens behind.
• Ramon suggested that they settle the dispute with a fair gamble, and Li Ang agreed.

Li Ang outwitted Ramon in a coin toss, negotiated a peaceful handover of the Noldo captives, and secured Ramon’s help brokering ransoms. After freeing Wendilf, Li Ang realized her conspicuous purple eyes could expose her Sindar ancestry as his party faced a dangerous journey home through a region on the brink of war.

• Li Ang discovered Ramon’s loaded dice and trick coins, then persuaded him to abandon a second ambush and accept payment for the captives.
• Li Ang hired Ramon to broker ransoms for Livius, Lord Fabius, and over four hundred Shadow Infantry, and proposed future business beyond slave trading.
• Vendathir freed the Noldo maidens, and Wendilf thanked Li Ang for saving her.
• Li Ang explained that Wendilf’s vivid purple eyes marked her as a likely Sindar descendant, making her difficult to conceal while the route home was threatened by military mobilization.
• Li Ang freed a captured halberdier from a carriage and urged him to keep quiet about the Xingar attack to prevent a wider war.

Li Ang tried to use a fabricated account to make Brennus suspect Prince Alanric and end the fighting, but Igor confronted him at the bridge and ordered the Lion Knights to seize him. Meanwhile, a violent succession struggle in Lion Lake City ended with Forster taking power and Granlon capturing Long River Town with the king’s golden seal.

• Brennus believed the halberdier’s story implicating Alanric, withdrew to Seven Forks Fortress, and sent peace negotiations to General Titus.
• Igor met Li Ang at the bridge, accused him of treason, and ordered the Lion Knights to seize him while threatening Ryman’s life.
• Nerida divorced Granlon, became Duchess of Lion Lake City, and gave Milgan military authority; after Milgan defeated and humiliated Granlon, the Flag Guard revolted and demanded Forster’s return.
• Forster took control of the Horton Family and Lion Lake City after Nerida and Alma’s other children died, then issued a warrant for Milgan, who fled south.
• Granlon used the royal golden seal to claim the Lion King’s authority and capture Long River Town, which Godric and Eric abandoned by ship.

Milgan convinced Ryman that Forster had seized Lion Lake City, but Prince Alanric arrested Ryman and blamed him for stealing the King's seal. Alanric's schemes sparked a clash with Brennus, and Igor tried to use Ryman's arrest to turn the Lion Knights against Li Ang, who fought back as Wendilf and Vendathir took aim at Igor.

• Milgan told Ryman that Forster had killed Duke Alma, seized Lion Lake City, and murdered Nerida, and Ryman believed his account.
• Ryman went to Lion City to report Forster, but Alanric arrested him for stealing the King's seal and planned to use the accusation against the Lion Knights.
• Brennus confronted Alanric over the danger to the kingdom, but they misunderstood each other, and Brennus left after issuing an ultimatum.
• Alanric sent Igor to negotiate peace with the Bacchus Empire and undermine the Lion Knights by invoking Ryman's alleged treason.
• Igor ordered the Lion Knights to surround Li Ang at the bridgehead and tried to frame him for the garrison murders, so Li Ang charged toward Igor through the ensuing fight.
• Wendilf and Vendathir aimed their arrows at Igor while Li Ang's group fought to break through the Lion Knights.

Li Ang's party killed Grand Scholar Igor with Vendathir and Wendilf's sound-guided arrows, forcing the Lion Knights to withdraw and reconsider their orders. After hearing tales of Li Ang's exploits, Wendilf joined his party despite being only fifty years old and not yet an adult by Noldo standards.

• Vendathir and Wendilf used sound to locate Igor and shot him fatally while the Lion Knights blocked their view.
• Li Ang told the Lion Knights that Igor had framed Ryman and urged them to return to Lion City and clear their vice commander's name.
• The Lion Knights withdrew, and Li Ang's group continued toward White Deer Fortress as Risadiran recounted Li Ang's past exploits to Wendilf.
• Wendilf asked to join Li Ang's party, and Vendathir reluctantly agreed after Li Ang learned that Wendilf was a fifty-year-old minor.
• Wendilf accepted a place in the party and asked whether she could earn wages or rob enemies.

Amy and Sarah arranged for the Noldo Rangers to raid the Ebony Gauntlet Knights and seize their Gatu horses, but Li Ang arrived as the battered knights were caught between Noldo forces. He let Dumbledore leave with a cover story for his defeat, then explained to Vendathir why he had not let the Ebony Gauntlet Knights be destroyed.

• Amy proposed having the Noldo Rangers rob the Ebony Gauntlet Knights of their more than six hundred Gatu warhorses, and Sarah helped present the plan as recovering strategic resources.
• The Noldo Rangers raided Dumbledore’s camp, drove the Ebony Gauntlet Knights into flight, and took the horses while Amy and Ansen’s party brought them to White Deer Fortress.
• Dumbledore’s remaining men were caught between the pursuing Noldo Rangers and Isildur’s force, but Li Ang’s arrival stopped the fighting as both Noldo forces withdrew or pulled back.
• Dumbledore told Li Ang that the Noldo Elves had stolen the Gatu horses, and Li Ang advised him to claim the Gatu people had robbed him so the Ebony Gauntlet Knights could save face.
• Li Ang gave Dumbledore food and sent him north to build the cover story, then told Vendathir that keeping the Ebony Gauntlet Knights alive would help prevent stronger enemies from targeting Noldo Forest.

Li Ang weighed whether to attack Long River Town and Lion Lake City while Forster was detained, balancing the chance to suppress the rebels against the risks to White Deer Fortress’s plans. In Long River Town, Granlon also hesitated over whether to kill Forster or accept his offer to exchange cities, leaving both men’s fates unresolved.

• Wendilf discussed Noldo Forest’s lack of predators with Li Ang, who said he cultivated predators.
• Long River Express reported that Forster had rebelled against King Ulrich, backed Madam Ursula, and been detained by Granlon after attending Alma’s memorial service in Long River Town.
• Li Ang considered attacking Long River Town with help from the Noldo Elves but spent the night undecided because of the military and political risks.
• Granlon recalled how he had taken Long River Town using the royal seal and lured Forster to Alma’s memorial service.
• Forster told Granlon that his men held Granlon’s family and offered to exchange Lion Lake City for Long River Town, leaving Granlon uncertain whether to kill him or accept.

After learning that the Raven Kingdom’s army was advancing south, Li Ang abandoned plans to suppress the Lionheart Kingdom’s rebellion and arranged to reinforce Brave Shield Fortress. He brought Noldo Elves and human troops together under his banner, hoping their shared defense would help secure peace between the peoples.

• Baron Leofric sent Li Ang urgent news that the Raven Kingdom’s army was crossing the Gatu Plains and requested reinforcements for Brave Shield Fortress.
• Li Ang discussed the crisis with Vendathir and decided to send troops while seeking closer cooperation between the Noldo and humans.
• Li Ang proposed a jointly protected trade zone to Noel, Isildur’s representative, and asked the Noldo to join his forces in defending Brave Shield Fortress.
• Noel accepted Li Ang’s command and agreed to lead Noldo troops beneath the Griffin banner, while Li Ang promised to limit their casualties.
• A few days later, Li Ang arrived at Brave Shield Fortress with nearly four hundred Noldo Elves and six hundred human soldiers, including Vendathir’s Rangers, Noel’s troops, Roland’s soldiers, Raphael’s Rangers, and Amy and Sarah’s female adventurers.

Li Ang prepared to confront a Raven Kingdom force near Brave Shield Fortress, suspecting the enemy’s cavalry was meant to cut off Lion Lake City while its main army attacked the city. His plan to lure the Raven cavalry into a trap became a fierce pursuit, as Vendathir and Raphael’s rangers improvised and fought together.

• Li Ang suspected the Raven Kingdom had reached an agreement with the Gatu people and deduced that its detached cavalry force was trying to sever the eastern border from Lion Lake City.
• After Raphael reported the Raven force had camped on open grassland, Li Ang brought his army to Fletcher Village and ordered Vendathir’s Maiden Rangers and Raphael’s Horn Caller Rangers to lure the enemy while Leofric prepared to flank them.
• Raphael’s horse injured its leg while evading the Raven cavalry’s arrows, and Vendathir turned back to rescue him as hundreds of Raven riders pursued them.
• Vendathir and Raphael’s rangers joined forces, with the Horn Caller Rangers shielding the Maiden Rangers as they shot down pursuing enemies and inflicted heavy losses.
• When the Raven cavalry halted its pursuit, Vendathir and Raphael attacked them again to keep the enemy engaged and fulfill Li Ang’s orders.

Vendathir and Raphael failed to lure Count Stephen’s Raven cavalry into a trap, but Li Ang learned that their force was guarding the route to Lion Lake City and prepared to drive it back. Meanwhile, Forster and Granlon joined forces and marched toward Eagle Claw Fortress, where Ursula and Baron Cadelon planned to seize Long River Town and use it to secure an alliance.

• Vendathir and Raphael’s forces harassed Count Stephen’s cavalry but failed to coordinate well enough to lure the Raven troops into an attack.
• Raphael brought Li Ang a wounded captive, who revealed that Count Stephen’s cavalry was guarding the eastern approach to prevent reinforcements from reaching Lion Lake City.
• Li Ang praised Vendathir and Raphael for returning safely and led his troops toward Count Stephen’s camp to defeat him without attempting to destroy his force.
• After receiving Kaidelen’s warning, Granlon released Forster, and the two men joined forces before marching with nearly three thousand troops toward Eagle Claw Fortress.
• The chapter recounted how Valera founded Eagle Claw Fortress and trained the Falcon Claws, before revealing that Cadelon had turned the fortress into a base for rogue knights and underworld thugs.
• Ursula learned from Cadelon that Forster and Granlon were on their way, while Cadelon planned to send troops toward Long River Town and Lion Lake City to help Ursula gain leverage for an alliance.

Kaidelen and Ursula moved against the Lionheart Kingdom and Raven Kingdom while Ulrich secretly arranged counterattacks and an alliance with Ursula. Alanric led an army toward Lion Lake City but froze with fear at Kewen Village, leaving his troops under a visibly frightened commander.

• Kaidelen predicted that Ulrich would stay in Lion City, while Ursula planned to use the conflict to strengthen her own position.
• Kaidelen captured Lion Lake City as Ursula revealed she intended to join Ulrich, seize Xiaolu City, and rebuild the Falcon Knight Order.
• Ulrich ordered Brennus to lead the Lion Knight Order against Kaidelen, sent Godric to reclaim Long River Town, and tasked Ryman and Ursula with attacking the Raven Territory.
• Ulrich disclosed that Bacchus would not attack because he had secretly funded Shira Yuzas and rebel forces were spreading through the empire.
• Alanric led nearly three thousand men toward Lion Lake City but halted at Kewen Village, overwhelmed by fear and unable to act like a confident commander.

Alanric’s troops devastated Kewen Village under the pretext of searching for rebels, while Brennus took Alanric away and marched toward Lion Lake City. Dalion chose to build a knightly order to protect civilians, and Brennus began an assault on Kaidelen’s city.

• Elderfried and Leofwan urged Alanric to raise his soldiers’ morale by raiding Kewen Village, and Alanric’s troops burned homes, robbed villagers, and assaulted civilians.
• Brennus arrived, took Alanric away, and marched north with the assembled troops toward Lion Lake City.
• At the Countess’s estate, Charles restrained Dalion from confronting the army, and the nobles offered to support him if he formed a knightly order to protect Kewen.
• Dalion agreed to form the Griffin Knights to protect the village and left with Charles to drive out the remaining soldiers.
• Brennus ignored Kaidelen’s lion banner and white flag, then ordered Elderfried and Leofwan to lead an assault on Lion Lake City.

Ursula’s attempt to capture Xiaolu City failed as Gregory IV secretly arranged for the Gatu people to seize Dark Falcon Fortress and support his invasion of the Lionheart Kingdom. After Raine was rescued by Amy and Sarah’s Griffin Sword Mercenary Group, he revealed Gregory IV’s deal to Li Ang’s camp, where Andongjia identified the danger the Gatu occupation posed to the Misty Mountains.

• Ursula and Ryman failed to take Xiaolu City because Count Stephen did not support their attack, while Gregory IV secretly offered the Gatu people Raven Territory lands in exchange for their help.
• Li Ang’s troops fought Count Stephen’s forces, then held position near Fletcher Village after learning that a massive Gatu army had arrived.
• Raine’s force was pursued and surrounded by Gatu cavalry, but Amy and Sarah’s Griffin Sword Mercenary Group rescued him.
• Amy and Sarah brought Raine to Li Ang’s camp, where he explained that Gregory IV had promised the Gatu people Dark Falcon Fortress and grazing lands west of Eagle Claw Fortress.
• Andongjia said Gregory IV likely intended the Gatu people to use Dark Falcon Fortress to block the Misty Mountains.

Li Ang learned that Zakar planned to exploit the war to seize Raven Territory’s eastern lands and called for the Falcon Claws and Falcon Knight Order to unite against the Gatu. At Eagle Claw Fortress, Forster and Granlon were trapped between Raven and Gatu forces, while Brennus’s capture of Lion Lake City left Kaidelen trembling and his allies exposed to punishment.

• Raine told Li Ang that Ursula had allied with the Lionheart Kingdom and offered to remain as an ally against Gregory IV and the Gatu.
• Dumbledore brought Li Ang a captured Gatu warrior, and Drash learned from him that Judah’s exiled tribe intended to avoid major battles and settle east of Eagle Claw Fortress.
• Li Ang deduced that Zakar planned to occupy Raven Territory’s eastern lands while its armies were away, so he called for the Falcon Claws and Falcon Knight Order to join him against the Gatu.
• Forster prepared to break out of Eagle Claw Fortress, but the arrival of a massive Gatu cavalry force forced him to stay inside while Granlon retreated south with the Flag Guard.
• Brennus captured Lion Lake City for the Lionheart Kingdom, leaving Kaidelen fearful and Baron Elderfried and Baron Leofwan’s forces nearly spent.

Brennus captured Lion Lake City, spared Kaidelen’s family in exchange for Kaidelen’s death in battle, and moved on toward Eagle Claw Fortress. Meanwhile, Li Ang lured Judah’s Gatu tribe west with grassland fires and cavalry raids, leaving the Gatu forces stranded near the fortress in a tense four-sided standoff.

• Elderfried and Leofwan led their levies to sack Lion Lake City, while Brennus took the city’s valuables for Cliff Bay.
• Brennus confronted Kaidelen, revealed that Ursula had exposed him, and promised to protect his family if he died fighting as a loyal vassal.
• Brennus brought his forces toward Eagle Claw Fortress and found the Raven Kingdom army, Gatu cavalry, and Forster’s troops already gathered around it.
• Li Ang ordered cavalry from Fletcher Village and Brave Shield Fortress to set fires and raid Judah’s Gatu tribe, driving the tribe west while Noldo and Ranger Corps troops freed captives and scattered its livestock.
• The Gatu tribe pursued Li Ang’s troops west, but Raphael led them into a hidden forest; after losing their target and running short of supplies, they headed for Eagle Claw Fortress.

Li Ang arranged for Raine’s Raven riders to provoke Brennus into fighting Gregory IV’s Raven army, and a chain of mistaken judgments turned the provocation into a major battle. The Lion Knight Order routed the Raven forces as the Gatu people raided their camp, giving Forster an opening to leave Eagle Claw Fortress.

• Li Ang told Raine to provoke Brennus and draw the Lion Knight Order into attacking the Raven army, while sending the riders toward the Gatu people afterward.
• Raine’s riders insulted Brennus, who ordered Kaidelen’s troops to attack the Raven formation; Kaidelen’s men fled, leaving him to be captured by Gregory IV’s forces.
• Kaidelen misled Gregory IV with a story of Brennus’s betrayal and joined the Raven side, prompting Gregory IV to believe the Lion Knight Order lacked resolve and order an advance.
• Gregory IV ordered the Raven army to attack Brennus, and the Lion Knight Order answered with five charges that broke the Raven formation.
• The Gatu cavalry raided the Raven army’s camp while Forster left Eagle Claw Fortress after recognizing his chance to escape.

Forster deceived Eagle Claw Fortress’s soldiers into charging into the battle, while the Gatu raiders, Lion Knight Order, and Raven army became entangled in fighting. Li Ang arrived with his troops and forced the Gatu people into the fortress, but refused Brennus’s summons to enter the city.

• Forster claimed the Gatu people were allies and sent the fortress’s soldiers and civilians into the battlefield, then escaped southwest with his elite troops.
• The Gatu people burned the Raven camp and looted Eagle Claw Fortress, while Brennus redirected his forces toward the Gatu people and Gregory IV rallied the Raven army against them.
• Brennus’s Lion Knight Order massacred rebels and civilians outside the fortress as Li Ang led his troops toward the battle.
• Li Ang ordered his troops to attack from range and push the Gatu people into Eagle Claw Fortress, where they withdrew to avoid being caught between the Raven army and Li Ang’s force.
• Brennus raised his marshal’s banner and summoned Li Ang into the fortress, but Li Ang refused to obey the order.

Li Ang trapped the Gatu people and the armies of the Lion Knight Order and Raven Kingdom inside Eagle Claw Fortress, forcing them into a deadly street battle. As the three factions fought over the fortress and tried to break out, the city became a meat grinder and Li Ang waited outside.

• Li Ang kept his forces outside Eagle Claw Fortress, blocked its eastern gate, and ordered Vendathir to seal the southern gate if Brennus's troops entered the city.
• Li Ang explained to Wendilf that he intended to let the Gatu people, the Lion Knight Order, and the Raven Kingdom fight until his own forces could appear as saviors.
• The Raven Kingdom's forces entered through the northern gate while Brennus and the Royal City Guard remained trapped at the southern wall.
• The Lion Knight Order advanced through the city but, exhausted by fighting on foot, was driven back by the Gatu people.
• The Gatu people tried to break out through the western gate, and the Raven forces attacked as the Lion Knights held their ground.
• The three factions repeatedly fought over the fortress center, turning its streets into a blood-soaked stalemate in which none could safely retreat.