Il seme della violenza

Relocating a Cayuga tribe deep into Chippewa territory ignoring the centuries-long hostility between the two peoples, seems like the act of a madman. Yet Colonel Slate, commander of Fort Holburn and the man behind the order, is anything but insane. So who stands to benefit from plunging the entire region into the horror of a new war?

Meanwhile, Sergeant Rowland, fleeing from his own comrades, reaches Zagor’s refuge only to be killed by men under Sergeant Chaney, Slate’s loyal right-hand man. Rowland, dying, manages to whisper a few cryptic words that could hold the key to unraveling the conspiracy spreading hatred and death across the forests of Darkwood. But what do they mean?

Determined to uncover the truth, Zagor visits his friend Tonka, who warns that the brewing conflict could engulf not only the Chippewa and Cayuga, but also the Mohawks and Shawnee. Zagor then heads to Fort Holburn, where General Murray expresses full confidence in Slate. At the fort, Zagor also encounters the arms dealer Griffith, who sees the impending war as a lucrative opportunity and is preparing to sell a large shipment of rifles to the garrison.

Zagor joins Captain London to lead a mission to rescue soldiers besieged by the Shawnee. But Chaney and his loyal men, in collusion with Slate and Griffith, try to kill Zagor to ensure their secret deal continues, Griffith profits from arms sales, while Slate and Chaney take a cut.

Zagor survives and sneaks back into the fort, where he learns the truth from Grumble Bell, a drunken Cayuga who witnessed the deal and confirmed that Rowland was killed to silence him.

With General Murray’s support, Zagor exposes the traitors and goes after Colonel Slate to bring him to justice. But before he can succeed, Slate is killed by Morning Star, whose husband was murdered by Slate’s men.