When they arrive at the city gates, they find that the city's baron refuses to let them in without a proper "sigil" , which is a special code that allows citizens to pass through the city without fear of being detected. The baron says that he will not allow them to pass without the proper code, which means that they have lost their chance to escape. As they wait for the baron to allow them in, they realize that the king has died and that the princess is being held hostage by the duke. The duke is holding her captive, and she is under the duke's control