High Ambassador Prudence deGales-Falcon, Baroness Durham is murdered by an Imperial assassin whilst under the hospitality of the Dragons Faction.
Lord Alexander Hulce, Duke Gloucester leads a mixed group of soliders and scholars into Empire-occupied Cornwall to successfully recover the Pendragon Throne itself and make a bid to win back the hearts and minds of the cornish people. Crown Prince Edward is kidnapped by Imperial Lion Knights and, although they are prevented from escaping, the abduction provides opportunity for the Eighth Legion to mount an attack on the royal household. This attack ends with the death of Her Majesty Elspeth Pendragon, Jac the Lord Provost and a number of other long-serving and distinguished Harts.