As the war between Leben and Carnea drags on, the sudden death of Carnea’s king shifts the balance in the invaders’ favor. Into this crisis steps a sharply dressed stranger who claims to have once served as a knight of Carnea. He proposes hiring battle-hardened mercenaries, with the necessary funds to be raised through the queen and her daughter’s personal involvement. After hearing his detailed strategy, the two women agree to begin the demanding preparations he outlines.