While the road to Kuith is always long, in most years it's not particularly troublesome.

But these are not most years.

Stories, news, refugees, and a heightened militia presence in the Central Free Provinces all tell of renewed hostilities with the Daynes, tribes from the northern highlands. Pirogoeth is sucked into the conflict, one that quickly escalates beyond the raids from the past.

As the situation becomes more dire, Pirogoeth and her allies reach the decision to launch what amounts to a suicide mission directly at the heart of the Daynish Army, realizing that it's the only way anyone in the Free Provinces is going to live to see the spring.

Provided they live to see the morning first...