In Brune, Thenardier dispatches Zion, to destroy Alsace as a sign of dominance now that the Prince Regnas has been killed. The soothsayer Drekavac gives Zion two dragons to be used as war beasts. In Leitmeritz, Tigre desperately tries to get back to protect his homeland. When Elen stops him and asks what Tigre alone could possibly do against 3000 soldiers, he asks the war maiden to let him borrow her army, which greatly amuses her, and she agrees, but at a price - Alsace, which Tigre accepts, provided she rule it with a benevolent hand. In Alsace, Titta, Tigre's maid, helps to evacuate the citizens but decides to stay at Tigre's home. While Zion's forces pillage the town, Zion decides to destroy the mansion. He tries to rape Titta, but is interrupted by the arrival of Tigre and Elen and he retreats. When an enemy archer tries to shoot Tigre, he catches the arrow and shoots it back, breaking his bow in the process. Titta gives her master the Black Bow, an heirloom of Tigre's ancestors.