Right after arriving back in Birthalis, Cid received a message about his home region. He returned home to retake his ancestral home. The undead were killed but the vampire usurper escaped (the vampire later appears in the Curse Breakers' visions and becomes part of the Tenebrous Council). Cid has now retaken his throne and is working to rebuild. The Queen of Xiltar is assassinated by jealous ex-lover. Xam believes there is more to it than is readily known. Queens have considerable protection and the fact that the previous Xiltar ambassador had been assassinate is too much coincidence for her.