Valerius and Shakerly awaken, badly wounded, and meet Cynthia of Heremac. She had been captured in the fall while riding with her father and brother; the ogres had kept her alive over the winter to serve as their cook and servant. The ogres are named Gnorrin, Glorrin, and Glogg. Cynthia is able to pilfer a potion that allows Valerius to regain much of his strength, and he and Shakerly work on an escape plan. Shakerly eventually tricks the ogres into playing a demented cross between blind man's bluff and pin the tail on the donkey. While the blindfolded ogres argue and beat on each other, the three humans and their donkey escape. Unfortunately, they escape into a blizzard. Fortunately, they eventually run into Hamral, Hedric, and Clement. The entire party camps for the night, and is able to weather the blizzard.

The next morning the entire group returns to Gwynnon; the day is spent waiting for an ogre raid that never actually comes.

Figuring that the ogres have given up, the party decides to leave the settlement so that Cynthia may be brought back to her father.

The party arrives in Heremac; Cynthia is reunited with her joyous father, Geoffrey Carder (who would have been even more joyous had any man in the group been nobly born). In any case, Carder gives each member of the party a set of fine clothes, two casks of the best Rhemish wine, and a free one-year lease on an apartment.