The party is overrun and captured by a troop of Roknari raiders from the adjacent principality of Jokona, then rescued by a patrol led by Arhys, lord of the nearby Castle Porifors, a strong leader of men and very handsome to boot.

Cattilara has managed to force a demon to keep her husband "alive" by transferring to him some of Illvin's vitality, but Ista can see that both men are fading fast.

The latter is an elderly daughter of the Golden General, a man of destiny blessed with many god-bestowed gifts whose death by magic had the side effect of creating the curse.

As Porifors and its defenders suffer demonic attacks, Arhys and a picked troop make a night raid that kills some of the sorcerers, but eventually they are overwhelmed.

Ista allows herself be taken as a hostage into the Princess' lair, supposedly to end the siege, but in reality to send the remaining demons back to the Bastard's care and defeat Joen.