Quick recap
Maddie returns to Castle Araluen and has to hide from the court that she's a Ranger's apprentice. The Red Fox Clan, which rejects women on the throne, gathers followers to seize the kingdom. Horace and Gilan lead troops north, walk into an ambush and end up besieged in an old hill fort. At the castle, Maddie finds secret tunnels and spies on a Clan meeting at an abbey, where she hears the plan to take the throne. Before she can raise the alarm, the Foxes get into the castle disguised as Horace's men. Their leader is Dimon, captain of the guard and Maddie's friend. Maikeru dies holding off the attackers. In the end, Maddie reaches the south tower through the tunnels, where Cassandra holds out under siege.

