The rest of the group awaken, and Aranea goes on to explain that Zook, in kissing her emissary, has been marked as her mate.  Normally, he would not be called upon for this duty for some considerable amount of time.  However, her realm is under attack and she needs children in order to defend it.  Zook asks the obvious question: "are there any negative side effects to mating?".  Aranea apologetically explains that her children will consume his life energy as a part of the process.

The group asks who is attacking Aranea's land.  She explains that it is one of the progeny of Grulag-Dur, the who is the seence of gianthood made flesh.  Grulag-Dur is enraged about something (William immediately accuses the rest of the party of being responsible) and has sent his children rampaging through the fey realms.  His rage is also communicating itself into the psyche of giants throughout the real world, and is the probable cause of the stone giants massing for war.

Genuine consideration is given to letting Zook be eaten, but in the end the group decides to try and defeat the invaders themselves.  Aranea accompanies them in this.  In this case, Grulag-Dur's progeny is his son by the spirit of winter, a powerful, cold-infused monster riding an immense, rat-like creature some twenty feet long.  With Aranea's help, the group is able to defeat this beast.  Aranea returns them to the mortal realm with Zook still alive ... though he is still marked as her mate, which is beginning to have an effect on his magical powers.

Back in the real world, the group hurries to the keep and make preparations for its defence.  They also use sending spells to warn Lady Talbalt and Chauntessa of the danger.