He becomes enmeshed in the violent political and social battles which riddle the Hold. Revolutionaries try to tear apart the ancient social fabric, while the aristocracy attempts to preserve it. And the Interpreters use both factions to further their own ends.
When he finds out the truth concerning his birth, he must struggle even more to free himself from the meshes of both Hold and Camp. As the son of the Queen and the consort, he is heir to the divided throne of Winterhold; an extremely dangerous position to occupy.
After a furious battle between the revolutionaries and the aristocracy, he leaves the Hold for the Waste. He flees both to preserve his life and to discover just who he is and what he must do. Blood determines his heritage, and he must struggle against the shadow it casts over his life.