The Hour of the Dragon: XXI, Out of the Dust Shall Acheron Arise; XXII, Drums of Peril; XXIII, The Road to Acheron Summary

In "XXI, Out of the Dust Shall Acheron Arise," winter passes in Aquilonia. Valerius begins to go mad. He crushes the rich and the poor with taxes and keeps soldiers and mercenaries for himself. Nemedians will make him abdicate the throne if he tries to consolidate his kingdom. He lives in debauchery and does not care about life. Amalric, another ruler, wishes to crush Aquilonia into submission. He wishes to obtain the crown of Nemedia from Tarascus. Valerius intends to ruin Aquilonia so not even Amalric can rebuild it. Valerius longs for the day Aquilonia is in ruins and Amalric and...