and Fone Bone arrive at Barrelhaven, Phoney Bone has taken control of the town and barricaded the roads. The Straggler The Hooded One brings news to the Lord of the Locusts that the armies of Pawa in the South have joined their cause, and the kingdom of Atheia has fallen to them. At Barrelhaven, Phoney Bone has stockpiled many of the townspeople's goods in payment for his "protection". Late one night, Fone Bone finds a baby rat creature scrounging in the garbage. Staying at the inn that night, Thorn is once again visited by the Hooded One in her dreams; this time revealing its face like young Gran'ma Ben's. She is only saved when Fone Bone wakes her to tell her about the Rat Creature cub and presents it to her. Thorn becomes furious at the sight, remembering how her parents were killed by Kingdok and threatens to kill it if Fone Bone doesn't kick it out. Deliver Us These Laws Lucius Down, after searching for Gran'ma Ben for two days, returns to find the town barricaded, and orders the fences to be torn down; but the townsfolk, terrified of dragons, refuse him. In the barn, Smiley Bone adopts the Rat Creature cub as a pet. Fone Bone meets with Lucius, who fears that the Rat Creatures evacuating the valley could be a precursor to another sneak attack like the Nights of Lightning. Smiley is shocked to learn that Thorn is a princess. Meanwhile, the Hooded One addresses the Rat Creatures and men from Pawa and orders them to prepare for war. The Midsummer Day's Plan Phoney continues to press the townspeople for his “dragon slayer” fees. Meanwhile, Thorn decides to leave the town and return to the farmhouse. In the mountains enclosing the valley, the Rat Creature army and the Pawan's have massed under the instructions of the Hooded One, in preparation for an invasion. The Turning Fone Bone and Smiley sneak the Rat Creature cub out of the walled compound to release it, but when Smiley strays out of sight with the cub, Fone is forced to go after them. Thorn tries to return to the farmhouse, but she collapses with exhaustion on the way, where four Veni Yan monks return her sword, which she left at the Barrelhaven. In her dream, she meets the Great Red Dragon, who convinces her not to run away. The next morning,