This is the third book in The chronicles of Mavin Manyshaped. It is time for Mavin and Himaggery to meet again, after twenty years, but he doesn't arrive. Instead Mavin finds that there is a message saying that Himaggery has been missing for some eight years, and Windlow the Seer wants her to find him.

Mavin by now is rather good at finding people and adventuring, and although she does find Himaggery, she discovers that he an ability for complicating her life much more than she expected.

She begins by visiting a Wizard who Himaggery was said to have seen, and finding that he is not to be trusted and probably dangerous. While visiting him, she makes enemies of two Harpies, Pantiquod and Foulitter, who she fears and despises. Although rescuing Himaggery is difficult, finding a way around the Haarpies as well may prove too muc, especially is she cannot use her Shifting Talent.