The brides have arrived at court. Choose any you like—each one is prettier than the last. And each is ready to go to the altar by tomorrow, if need be. Only Richard’s thoughts keep wandering somewhere else. First to ancient secrets, then to a demoness who is trying with all her might to carry out a task, and then, quite suddenly, something wicked crawls into his head. And on top of everything, primordial darkness has stirred and started creeping across the Castle, stirring up the people.