Artesia and her chief lords and captains are called to the castle of An-Ogruth, where the Grand Duke will reveal plans to break the Thessid siege and liberate the city of Collwyn. She is reunited with her brother, Stjepan, who reveals strong suspicions amongst the learned magisters of the Middle Kingdoms that the Thessid Emperor has become a Worm King -- an ancient evil, long thought banished from the Known World.