In a battle on the Dinant Plains, Leitmeritz Vanadis Eleonora Viltaria and her 5,000 troops are able to rout an army of 25,000 soldiers from the Brune Kingdom, leaving Count Tigrevurmud Vorn as one of the few surviving soldiers. He spots Elen's escort and attacks hoping to kill her and demoralize the enemy. His attack fails and the war maiden captures him and brings him to her bustling homeland Leitmeritz. Tigre's sleep is troubled by visions of being ridiculed by Zion Thernardier, the son of Duke Felix Aaron Thenardier, before Elen's assault and is woken up by Limalisha, Elen's subordinate and bodyguard. Elen discusses his current situation as a prisoner with Tigre and realizes that the ransom she demanded for him is far to great for him or any of his acquaintances to pay. Later that day, Elen arranges for a demonstration of Tigre's skills with a bow, but he is given an inferior weapon and appears to misfire twice. When an assassin makes an attempt on Elen's life, she stops the crossbow quarrel with her powers and Tigre, having determined the inferior bow's limits, shoots the assassin allowing Lim to apprehend him. Those who gave him the flawed bow are astonished that he was able to pierce the fleeing assassin's foot at a range of more than 300 alsins (meters). Elen offers Tigre a position in her retinue but he declines because he has a responsibility to the people and land of Alsace. Disappointed, Elen allows Tigre to keep the rank of Count and he grows used to life at Leitmeritz. As night comes, Bertrand, Tigre's loyal servant, arrives at Elen's fortress and tells Tigre that Thenardier is mobilizing his troops towards Alsace.