Raven goes to Gardia, seeking some magic to help her defeat the dragony Wyrm. Her docent at the museum will be young Myrn, who seems inexperienced but has remarkable knowledge of the museum. Myrn suggests a bizarre piece of nose-magic to Raven. Could this artifact possibly help her?

Raven fights a pig and loses, but wins, by saving Gretel and her young charge Trudie. Raven meets Ned and learns a great lesson about life, and about counting silver. Raven studies Wyrm, having no idea how to kill it. She decides she needs to go to Gardia Museum, to find a magical artifact that will help her.

Raven arranges to stay at Walthorn for awhile. She meets Gretel again, and also Gretel's nasty associates. Raven and Castia -- her new magical Zhouraini friend -- get even with Derk.

Raven tells Orvannon how she performed her last job for him. Then: "Kill the Wyrm," he says. Raven moves to Walthorn to work on her new task. On the way, she finds the corpse of a murdered woman. She also visits an 'Honester', where we learn about the religion of northern Ausland.

Raven comes to Redthwen to find her mentor, Orvannon. She meets the hag Gretel and dangerous Garfie. This chapter includes a rape, a murder, and Raven's first encounter with the monster dragon she calls 'Wyrm'.