Edmund joins the party after attending Francis’s funeral in Bastion, sent north by his mentor Willard to aid Abby, Jon, Barit, and Mila. Their mission: deliver a letter to a man named Andrew. But upon arriving at Andrew’s cabin, they unwittingly trigger a trap, unleashing a deadly flesh golem. The creature proves immune to Edmund’s magic and tragically kills Mila. Pressing on, they encounter Christian Couver, a monk with questionable morals, and send him back to his monastery. The next day, the group is ambushed and captured by a band of riders led by Robert Moss—mercenaries hired by Bastion councilman John MacEachern to kill the party and kidnap Abby. Edmund turns the tide with magic, Jon breaks free, and they defeat their captors. With Robert as a prisoner, they confirm John’s betrayal and set their sights on reaching The Twins, now fully aware they’re caught in a far more dangerous game.