Dias's attempts at farming are finally paying off (thanks to Senai and Ayhan's secret forestkin magic!) but he won't be able to rest on his laurels just yet. The village needs to work out a more effective form of governance; meanwhile, the dogkin arrive with a literally monstrous surprise in tow. And outside the Nezrose domain lurks a burgeoning threat: a vengeful Princess Diane dreaming of conquest. Oh, and in the midst of all this, guard captain Klaus falls in love!