After years of training, Shadow and Alaric are knighted alongside their peers. The ceremony is grand, attended by the king himself. Shadow is awestruck by the majesty of the court but quickly learns that politics and intrigue dominate the kingdom.
The king assigns Shadow and Alaric to a diplomatic mission to a distant duchy. Though the task seems straightforward, Shadow senses underlying tensions. His instincts prove correct when bandits ambush the group en route.
Shadow and Alaric fight valiantly, protecting the king's envoy and earning his personal favor. The king praises them upon their return, marking the beginning of their rise to prominence.