Arslan is rescued by his loyal servant Daryun and they must run away from the Lusitanian forces, led by the General Silvermask, who ambush and capture his father personally.

On their way to the stronghold at Peshawar, Arslan's party is pursued by a force led by Xandes, Kharlan's son who seeks to avenge his father and they are forced to split up.

Rajendra asks Daryun to be his proxy in the duel before the gods to determine the next heir to the throne of Sindhura. Faced with the fearsome knight in black, Gadevi arrives at a terrifying solution.

Étoile wrestles with the knowledge that the prince, whose head he had wanted for so long, was someone he knew. And the battle for the Keep of Saint Emmanuel continues.