An angry confrontation ensues between Cathal and Mara. Cathal is furious Mara disobeyed a direct order; Mara, unused to obeying any authority save her Master's, Khorien, the wizard ruler of Taeghas, refuses to bow to his will. Reynhild intervenes and manages to calm them both down, explaining to Mara that Cathal is new to rule and needs to not have his authority second-guessed, and explaining to Cathal that Mara has perhaps learned a certain lack of restraint under Khorien's tutelage, and assuring him that Mara hasn't undermined him in the eyes of his men, as no man can really command a wizard.
Two letters arrive: one from House Duene, claiming they have no idea where Cathal's half-brother Brindon is, after he was sent to their lands to apprehend a troublesome young nobleman there. Reynhild and Cathal immediately distrust it, and Reynhild dispatches the most trusted of her inner circle of rangers, an eyepatched and leathery man named Adair, to seek any trace of Brindon's fate. The second letter is from Harald Khorien, expressing his official condolences for the string of tragedies.
They try again to interrogate the assassin when he regains consciousness. Cathal finally gives up, essentially giving Mara and Reynhild free reign to attempt more extreme measures.
Mara's spells and Reynhild's intimidation only unearth one more piece of information-- the assassin was to report back in by purchasing services at a certain brothel in Stormpoint with a defaced coin. Reynhild, no stranger to brutality, discovers to her own surprise she has lost the stomach for it, but does sever the man's finger ("You took something I loved from me, now I shall take something from you.") The two give up, and give him over to Cathal for execution.
The following day, the assassin is beheaded by Cathal's sword, then quartered and fed to the hounds.
The three prepare for Cathal's official tour of the barony as its new lord. First, they head westward to Three Corners, Wilder's Gorge's most prosperous town at the borders of three baronies. On the way, they are intercepted by another of Reynhild's rangers, Asha, who informs them that an awnsheghlien (someone tainted by the blood of the dark god Azrai) named Eldric the Fair, and his band of mercenaries, a rough and ill-reputed lot called the Black Talons, are headed for Wilder's Gorge. All three are immediately suspicious.
They find the Talons' encampment not long after, and find Eldric himself-- a seven-foot tall, golden-haired man as dazzling as his name suggests-- bathing nude in the river. (Reynhild is indifferent; Mara seems decidedly twitterpated.)
They exchange niceties, but he doesn't disclose why his men have been sent to the Seamist Mountains in eastern Wilder's Gorge. He vows to keep his men under control while in Fulcairn lands, and they head to the town of Three Corners together.
Both the Fulcairns and the Black Talons converge at the town's only inn. One of the mercenaries harasses a serving woman, and the Fulcairns ready themselves to intervene, but Eldric does instead, and Reynhild (who is keeping an eye on the alleys from the shadows of the inn's roof) catches a glimpse of what looks like Eldric ensorceling the offender.
After everyone has gone to bed, Mara has a horrifying dream that seems disturbingly real until she awakes-- Eldric breaks into her room and attempts to choke her to death. She is saved in the dream by the land's enigmatic magic itself speaking to her and urging her to tap it. She awakes, deeply shaken.
They part ways with the Black Talons and head back east to Castle Fulcairn, making preparations for war, as they all distrust the Black Talons' intent. A ranger shows up and informs Cathal that the Talons have overturned a farmer's cart and slain his ox on the road. Cathal is incensed, as that constitutes a violation of Eldric's promise of good behaviour in Fulcairn lands. He sends Asha back out to learn of the fate of the farmer and calls his council to discuss what course of action to take. Cathal wants to parley with Eldric and demand repayment for the farmer's property. Merrec and Reynhild counsel letting him pass and paying the farmer for his trouble themselves. Cathal, Mara, Dolan, and Finn come up with a plan to "ransom" a few of Eldric's men, which they decide to proceed with. At the last minute, not wanting an armed standoff, Cathal forces the Black Talons who had entered Fulcairn to resupply to pay the value of the farmer's ox and cart. They leave without further incident.
The Fulcairns prepare to resume Cathal's tour, but Asha returns, winded and out of breath, and tells them that the farmer on the road was slain. Cathal is enraged, and lashes out at Reynhild and Merrec, who'd advised caution. Merrec suggests that caution is what Cathal's father Cullan always practiced, and Cathal angrily states that his father's lack of leadership is what has gotten the barony into its current dire state. He is taken aback by his own statement, and Reynhild and Merrec both storm out.
That evening, he is tortured by the weight of his newfound command and is agonizing over the decision. Reynhild finds him and tells him that no matter what happens, no matter what the days to come hold, she will be by his side, and the enemies of the House will not prevail as long as she lives.
He calls council again. Dolan and Mara advise destroying the Talons outright. Reynhild states that House Fulcairn cannot afford a war of attrition in its weakened state, and suggests at least attempting to parley with Eldric. They make for Goshawk pass, hoping to overtake the Talons and negotiate weregilt for the farmer's life.
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