The two brothers rescue a woman from the north countries, and take her with them to rejoin the Kin. Another man comes and tries to abduct the child Muti whom he sees as a 'lost heir' of a powerful ruler. He is defeated. Trygve, a good man who with his family and supporters has left the north country to seek safety elsewhere, is blood uncle to the child Muti. Petros the Wise and Trygve decide to merge their two peoples, which will give them a better chance to survive to survive in the perilous times of the Great Destruction. Meanwhile, conditions in Egypt have deteriorated and many flee that regime, including Petros the Wise's long absent son, Bakmut, and many of the artisans and weapons makers. Muti, the living bridge between the northerners and the Kin, is the leader although very young. As he proves, again and again, he is a worthy leader, destined for great renoun.