When Will gets help from the healer Malcolm, his friend Horace and a group of Skandians under the command of Gundar Hardstriker he decides to attack. With a trick with a cart he knows to infiltrate the castle and get the Skandians in, and when they kill the lieutenant of the guard, John Buttle, Will confronts Keren and frees Alyss. The battle is a victory for the Araluans and the Skandians.