Saskatchewan

O'Rourke and Cajou return from a trapping trip to find a burned wagon train and Grace Markey, the sole survivor. They bring her back to their fort in Saskatchewan, where her presence unsettles the frontier's already tense balance. Grace's survival becomes a catalyst that heightens suspicion and fuels looming conflicts.

A newly arrived post commander, Inspector Benton, takes command at the Saskatchewan fort. He issues an order to confiscate all Cree rifles, a move O'Rourke is unaware of while away trapping. The order sets up a clash between duty and personal loyalties.

Benton spots Cajou with a rifle and commands O'Rourke to confiscate it. O'Rourke initially refuses, arguing that he personally gave Cajou the rifle. The moment foreshadows a rift between O'Rourke and Cajou.

O'Rourke relents and takes Cajou's rifle to fulfill the order. The act costs him Cajou's friendship and deepens the divide between the Mounties and the Cree. The decision foreshadows broader consequences for alliance-building.

Across the border, the Sioux urge the Cree to join them against the Canadian forces. They promise to replace the rifles taken from the dead 7th US Cavalry at Little Bighorn. The Cree face a critical choice about whose side to trust.

Mounties begin marching toward Fort Walsh near the border. Benton orders the sergeant to arrest O'Rourke for refusing the rifle order. The sergeant refuses, escalating tensions and hinting at a breakdown in command.

O'Rourke detours from the marching force to visit the Cree camp and seek a pledge not to ally with the Sioux. The Cree chief agrees not to join if rifles are returned, offering a potential path to de-escalation. This detour complicates the march and tests loyalty on multiple fronts.

O'Rourke returns to Fort Walsh to relay the Cree chief's condition: they will not ally with the Sioux if their rifles are restored. The superintendent rejects the conditional deal and orders continued detention. Tensions rise as higher orders clash with on-the-ground diplomacy.

Upon arrival at Fort Walsh, the entire Fort Saskatchewan force is detained along with their officers. The detentions reflect the coercive atmosphere and the power struggle between Benton and the fort's leadership. The situation leaves the Mounties isolated and under scrutiny.

The commander at Fort Walsh receives orders to meet with the Sioux and tell them they must live peacefully in Canada. O'Rourke warns that the Sioux will not talk to him, but the superintendent presses forward. The standoff underscores frontier fragility and the pressure to avoid open conflict.

The Sioux launch an attack on the Mounties, who are outnumbered and trapped. Many of their comrades are dead or wounded, and the situation grows increasingly desperate. The assault demonstrates the peril of an isolated outpost without Cree aid.

O'Rourke and the Cree surge to the rescue, charging into the siege. The combined force fights to break the siege and tilt the balance in favor of the Mounties. The fragile alliance proves pivotal to the outcome, though its future remains uncertain.

The rescue lifts the Mounties from the brink of defeat, but the episode leaves lasting strains among the Cree, Sioux, and Mounties. O'Rourke's actions restore some balance but cement a wary peace among the factions. The events set the stage for ongoing frontier diplomacy.