After the battle is over the bloody and ash covered soldiers clear remains, the great Eagle riders return to Ceraden's Bluffs and inform King Oronin of King Athasar's arrival.
When King Athasar arrives many political dissensions are made. Also an inquiry of what has happened to King Tidaeon. Draweille's original destination was to inquire about this when he witnessed smoke from
Hurtcutt.
When a heavily armored retinue of soldiers arrive at the Iron keep they find the castle deserted.
The host of kings guard's search the Iron Keep for any signs of its inhabitants with negative results. Gundrick has an uneasy feeling about their surroundings not even the common sea birds are about just the silence of the wind blowing through empty halls. When Captain Morrick, and Gundrick reaches the main Keeps great hall Gundrick realizes what is a miss. The statue's that line the walls and towers come to life and ambush the host of kings guards.
During the ambush Gundrick loses his shield. Gundrick is chased through the Keep and is forced to escape through the Keeps sewer system.
Gundrick finds himself in a small cavern far below the Keep on the eastern cliff face of the mountain with the tide coming in. He is forced to leave behind his heavy armor. Gundrick is able to swim along the rocky shore as waves batter him against the rocks.
When Prince ________ learns of the escape sends animated corpses of the kings guard after them. Horses with torn flesh and exposed bone gallop along the rocky trails leading down the mountain side.
Prince _______ Tideaons son his mother was a sorceress. ________showed promise with magic and little patience with sword and shield although he can wield them he found greater resolve and power in magic. Was seen as a hard stone hearted youth from being raised in the Iron Keep or the death of his mother is uncertain. He was eventually sent to the holy city of ________ to study magic there he was approached by an old wizard who taught the young Prince dark magic "really demon".