Treachery at Silverwood
A month after Mikkel and Ajay's arrival in Silverwood, it is discovered that there is an infestation of Goblins in their lands. The pair volunteer to go with the patrol assigned to track and route them. The patrol locates a cave system that the Goblins have been using as a base, and the group systematically goes through and eliminates them. In the process, they discover a detailed map of the Silverwood palace, including some of the hidden passages, and some places marked. They also find a number of Halfling costumes, as if the Goblins were planning to disguise themselves. They also find the Halflings the clothes came from and free them, taking them and a Goblin prisoner back.
Investigating the map, they find one of the places marked was Mikkel's apartments, the find a secret passage from outside into his bathroom. In the larder, another marked spot reveals a secret room with a recently placed sack containing a large quantity of powdered poison, and second map, with a line marked that led them to the palace's water reservoir. An interrogation of the Goblin leader shows that they had been hired by a human to infiltrate the palace dressed as Halflings and poison the water supply, then set off a roman candle to signal to someone waiting in the woods.
The Elves decide to prepare, and use the candle to signal for whoever is waiting to come. When they do, a party of thirty Dwarves on ponies arrives, led by a Dwarf named McGeebers. Under interrogation, McGeebers admits they were there hired by a human named Matthias to obtain the Queen's signature on a document, and signal someone else when it was done by using a pressed log.
They light the log, which releases a billowing red smoke. Within an hour a small group of Elves appear, including Mikkel's cousin Aimon and Mikkel's betrothed Tobin and the human mercenary Matthias who made the arrangements. It is revealed that their plan was to force Queen Mabin to abdicate in favor of Aiden, who would marry Tobin, giving them control of Silverwood. At some point Aiden would be killed, so that Tobin could be with her brother, Thalanil.
Tobin is sent back to Darkwood to face the punishment of her father, while Aimon, Matthias, and McGeebers are imprisoned at Silverwood.
When all is settled, Ajay and Mikkel return home to Santa Cruz for the first time since they arrived.