In the second volume of The Contest the seven princes are imprisoned by Queen Beanice.
For finding clues for their survival and out of boredom they each tell their story of the second year of hte Contest, some twenty years ago, when King Tyuman sent them to find the seven gates – one gate for each prince. The gates are placed in lands outside the Sevenriversland.

Their narration is transferred to the people at the „Haughty Herring“ in Dolchaven, as the friends their want to hear how their stories went on.

Queen Beanice meanwhile attemps to become Empress of the seven realms of the Aiya. She sees the need for unifying and strengthening the seven realms in order to be able to defend the country from the Dragon Emperor and from the Vulture Riders.

Bu the eastern realms are not willing to accept her as Empress and align with Dragon Emperor and Vulture Riders. The confrontation culminates in a great battle.

Meanwhile the friends of the seven princes activate a lot of means and support to free the seven princes.

The main part of this book consists of the stories of the seven princes during the second year of the Contest.