Justin struggles to penetrate the hills, but the bandits bring a monstrous foe against his newly-inherited company. Bar-flies in Cryssigens hear that the Emperor's mission has been destroyed, and nothing stands in the way of rebellion against the Empire now.

Justin's troop encounters its first taste of combat, and he meets his lifelong rival Valin, who in dying passes him the flag. Justin sees no way to complete his secret mission now- the race to reach Cryssigens looks lost from the start.