The group encounters their first Orc patrol, complete with an Ogre. Archer is crushed by a boulder during combat, but survives. The Orcs are defeated, and the party returns to camp with the Ogre�s head. Arabelle sees the head, and remembers an old hatred.
The next morning, Carmen is seen dispatching a rider to a nearby town. Arabelle agrees to join the others on patrol. They encounter an Orc encampment, complete with Ogre and Goblin slaves, and Arabelle proves her worth against the Ogre. Dee accidentally kills an enslaved Goblin while trying to free it. The party is forced to withdrawn after the sounds of approaching horns, and return to camp with some booty.
On the way down, Arabelle reveals to the party that she is pregnant, and that the baby will be born in three days time, thanks to a ritual to be preformed by Carmen. Archer is angered by this sudden revelation, and returns up the mountain to vent some steam on some Orcs. Arabelle and Dee give chase, and the trio encounter three Ogres. A quick battle downs the Ogres, and the party to return to camp.
Arabelle and Archer have a private conversation about her pregnancy in the woods next to the camp. During it, Archer fires at a mysterious figure in the trees. After a fruitless search, Archer receives an equally mysterious note warning the party that the Black Dragons are in forest. He and Arabelle return to camp and inform the others.
Archer feels he is being watched � it feels familiar. He directs the party out of the camp for a secret meeting. While discussing things, the Warlord�s General arrives with his men, demanding that the Talons return. He reveals that Archer has a sister, and that the Warlord holds Arabelle�s family sword, an artifact Dee was searching for, and that he holds Anear�s life in his hands. The party is given a week to consider their response, and the General leaves. Archer fires an arrow into the forest out of rage, and hits a nearby assassin.
While the others restrain the assassin, Archer and Arabelle return to camp and ask for a leave of absence in a week�s time from Tygon. He agrees. Archer has another private talk with Arabelle, urging her to give up the baby. She is very unhappy, but seems to agree with his logic.
They return to the others and begin an interrogation of the prisoner. Dee displays some strange behaviour, using magic to colour his body and nose. The party is then attacked by the Black Dragons, who force them to retreat. The group discovers they may have an ally within the Dragons ranks.
Archer receives a midnight visitor; it is a member of the Black Dragons, in fact the one Archer fought in Wahale. He gives Archer information on the Dragons camp, citing his hatred of the snake men, known as Thassians, and their wastage of good men on a personal vendetta. His exit causes a commotion, which Archer is forced to deal with.
The next morning, the party is given an assignment to gain some Troll blood for Carmen�s ritual. After half a day of tracking, the party encounter and fight a Troll. After a brutal battle, the party choses to negotiate with the Troll, and make a deal with it to destroy the Thassian camp in the forest. Archer and Arabelle stay with the Troll while the others return to camp. On the way, they encounter some Orcs, but make short work of them.
Dee badly explains the plan to Tygon, and causes a mild panic. After clarifying the situation, she and the other party members leave for the Thassian camp.
Archer and Arabelle lead the Troll down to the Thassian camp under the cover of darkness. The battle is very violent, as the Troll rages. It also attacks Dee, mortally wounding her. Arabelle is also seriously injured during the fray by a Thassian�s poisonous bite. An angry Archer manages to stop the Troll and gain its blood, and it leaves.
The party rushes Dee and Arabelle back to camp, and their lives are saved with regeneration potions gained from the dead Thassian leader, thanks to the group�s mysterious helper. Another Regeneration potion and three red potions are also gained. Archer stays behind to hunt the Troll alone.
Archer eventually returns, covered in soot. The party recovers. The rider sent out days before returns with a midwife, who is immediately brought to Carmen�s tent.
Later in the day, Archer and Dee are invited to attend the ritual Carmen is to preform for Arabelle. After a complicated ceremony that ages Arabelle by six months, a baby boy is born. It is healthy, but quiet. Arabelle names the child Quigon.
Days pass. A Troll is spotted in the woods. Archer and a patrol hunt it back up the mountain and burn out its cave. Dee helps Arabelle look after the baby. The group and Tygon discuss tactics for a theoretical battle, in a place they hope to meet Warlord Deathbourne, though Archer tells Tygon it is for the Black Dragons. The party prepares to leave once the Warlord�s General returns.