After Gieve leaves under fraught circumstances, Arslan and the Parsian army are finally ready to march to the capital of Ecbatana. Guiscard and the Lusitanian government have their own plans, but Pars finds victory in their first encounter thanks, once again to Narsus's brilliant foresight and strategy. However, an unexpected run-in with Lusitanian scouts forces Arslan and his allies into a bloody battle neither side is prepared for. After the prince finds himself locked in conflict with Étoile, he faces a dilemma: How does one treat an enemy who would rather die for their beliefs than receive any form of mercy?