Stig Feyren just turned 20 and can finally attend the winter solstice. Despite the bad omens of their seer Anasie, he doesn't doubt he will have a great time at the festivities. The first night, seated among his clan, he enjoys the meal and takes the time to watch the others guests, listen the mythical song he knows by heart and look at the king Cudwich and his long antlers. The atmosphere is merry when suddenly, sir Conrad Dewe chokes and dies. Stig doubts the accident as he was looking at Conrad at that time. The following day, Stig tells his theory to his father who forbids him to sneak around. However Stig trusts his guts and goes back to the banquet room, looking for clues. He is joined by Umbre Dewe, Conrad's daughter, also looking for something. Under sir Conrad's seat, they find a dead rat. Together, they decide to investigate.

Soon after, while the Feyrens are on a hunt, Stig talks to his brother about the rat. Ewald tries to reassure him, death his unfortunately a common thing in their world. Interrupted by their father, Stig is told to go find the boars and lead them back toward the men. Alone in the woods and deep in thoughts, Stig is surprised by a Keran, a spirit summoned from behind the Veil, powerful and dangerous. He tries to flee but is soon attacked. Defending himself as much as he can, he knows there is nothing for him to do, the group is too far for them to hear him. When a wolf arrives and frees Stig, frightening the spirit. Once again, his brother was there for him and saved him. Back to his tower, Stig is quite stupefied by the presence of the spirit in the woods because it requires someone with enough power to summon one, in other words, only the Lugens can do that. Then he remembers the seer's words before their departure: "The omen smell of death. Death and grief".

The same night, everybody in the banquet room is quieter. Sir Conrad's death is vivid. Watching once again the guests, he remains deep in thoughts. He would like to talk to Anasie, to know whether she saw something else. He really likes her, she taught him everything. At some point, he gaze meets Theudeusinde's, a strange woman, clan chief, who watches him with a sick smile. Tired, he goes out to get some fresh air, to be met by a young Oren, Johan. Stig is surprised by his friendliness, used to be cast off by the others. During the conversation, the young man confirms to him the future guest darker. He read the threads of the Fate in his dreams. Before saying more, they are interrupted: Anasie has been found dead.

The two brothers are quite affected by this death, Anasie was for them like the mother they never had. After an argument with his father regarding her burial, Stig defies his father, fed up by his lack of respect and ignorance, "You don't scare me anymore". This affects him a lot too, he knows that he is now dead to his father, and despite everything, Stig only wishes to be loved. Hurt and agitated, he transforms into a crow and flies the freezing air. On his tour, he spies the young Lugen he noticed the first night, summoning a spirit and asking it to watch someone from her one clan. Later that day, Stig meets with Umbre and concludes to the poisoning of sir Conrad. On this third night, his spirits are better, his new friends take care of him. However, Fate isn't finished yet, a few hours later, Umbre is found dead and her mother takes her life the following day.

Stig spent all night thinking about all the deaths, so when he sees the king at the exact spot from where Umbre's mother jumped from the cliff, he doesn't hesitate. His anger fuels his audacity. The king, powerful as he is, must already know the answers. But Cudwich refuses to tell him, only saying that he must make the choice, that he must understand by himself. In no way the king wants to interfere, as his own life my depend on Sitg.

A little while later, the Quest for the Soul of the Glade takes place. It's a traditional quest in the woods where an enchanted object is hidden, representing the Soul of the Glade. The one who finds it wins and can be the first to renew his oath to the king. Anyone can participate, but everyone his made powerless. Stig and Ewald almost find it when they are attacked by spirits. Outnumbered, Ewald sacrifies himself for his brother, saved at the last minute by his friends. Disgusted with himself, Stig can't believe he let Ewald behind.

The day after, numb with grief, Stig is on his way to meet his friends. Alone in the snow he is once attacked. Johan helps him, together they stand against the assailant. They discover it was Theudeusinde behind the attacks.

On the last night, Stig is frustrated, sad, agitated and hurt. He understands then that the clans must have acted together. Of course he knew the rumors that some doubted the power of the king, his goldly part. Of course he knew some people were convinced they were not free as everything was written in the Threads. But he also knew that it wasn't true. That there were so many Threads, so many possibles, every possibles, that the men were free... All the events, as sad and tragic as they are, lead only to him. He seems to be the only hope the king has. The only one who still believes in the magic of the Glades.

Stig runs to the Pinnacle, were the clan chiefs and the king are for the ceremony, but he is too late. His father under his bear form, and the king, as a stag, are fighting. Giving the last blow to the stag, the bear is hurt by a dagger in his eye. Stig doesn't believe what he just did. The chiefs are victors. They have taken back their future, they are freed from the God. Or so they think.

The soul of the Glade isn't killed of forgotten by killing a king. Urian may be blind, but his world survives.

The Wegg and the Glade

All the clans gather for the Winter Solstice on the Wegg, high plateau surrounded by thick forests, lakes and mountains.

Each clans has its own tower, ornate by its banner. In the middle of the four towers is a big stone monolith and next to it is a long building dedicated for the gatherings and the king wing. On the banquet room walls is frescoed the myth of the birth of the world and the first kings, half gods half man, who ruled the Glade.

Above the Wegg, accessible by a stone staircase is the Pinnacle, where are arranged fives thrones, one for each clan and one for the king of winter. This is where take place the congregations and are renewed the oaths.

Below the plateau, at the feet of the cliffs, the forests, rivers and lakes pepper the surroundings and hold the traditional Quest for the Glade's Soul. During this quest, the competitors have to find an object hidden by the king, representing the soul of the Glade, without the use of their powers. The winner receives the honor to renew his vow to the king first.