Lim recovers from the snake bite and Elen "rewards" Tigre with a bath in a private bathhouse where Mila happens to be bathing. Afterwards Tigre, Lim and both Vanadis tour Rodnik, but despite having a good time, Mila states that she is returning to her snowy homeland of Olmütz, which borders Leitmeritz. Elen orders Lim to increase the border patrol and is not caught by surprise when Mila mobilizes her forces. This is a plot by Thenardier to force Elen to move forces from Alsace to her border. The Leitmeritz forces mobilize and the armies clash, but their battle ends in a stalemate. Mila retreats to the Tatra Fortress, a nearly impregnable fortification, and the Leitmeritz army settles in for a siege. Disguising himself as a bear, Tigre scouts for a route around the fortress and encounters Mila. Maintaining his disguise, Tigre and Mila share some tea and she expresses her misgivings about supporting Thenardier. Tigre follows Mila when she returns to the fortress and then reports back to Elen and they lead a raid of 100 men into the mountains. Elen uses her full power to try to break through the rear gate but is unable to do so. When Tigre saves Elen from certain death, the two combine their powers to destroy the gate and lead their men into the breach.