While Gwenc'hlan and Taran desperately seek to find Pa and his family of cannibals, the tiern Leonin extirpates himself from the remains of the Eastern castel. Against all expectations, he survived and, while fainting, saw the arrival of an army led by Claudas from the deserted lands. What does this lord, known for his ambitions and cruelty, come to do here? Monsignor Verrus's successor accompanies him to inaugurate a new church raised in the name of the Christian god. As terrible events take place in the forest and our heroes discover to whom they are dealing, false pretences will fly.