In the midst of the unnatural heat-sent by Ser Noris to wear them down-Serroi and Hern ride in uneasy partnership on their quest to find the Changer who also calls himself-or itself-Coyote.

Under attack by Ser Noris whenever he can find her-Serroi is protected from nor longsight and nor spells by the tajicho, the crystallized third eye of a Nyok’chui, a lethal giant earthworm-they cross the continent, attacked by minark soldiers after they humiliate a minark lordling, attacked by Sleykynin, chased and nearly killed by Assurtiles for what they did to those Sleykynin, forced onto an eerie plateau where they meet small flying people and great glass dragons and are so affected by the magic there that they walk in each other’s bodies, share each other’s dreams, where Serroi finally succumbs to the magic that is her nature, the magic she has denied so long.

Given shelter by Hekotoro to the fenekel in Hold Hek, she learns the imperatives of her newly acquired talent for healing while she and Hern reach a tentative peace with each other.

Attacked in Tuku-kul by ambushing Sleykynin, she learns the other side of her healing power, that what heals can also kill. She and Hern quarrel and make peace again.

They cross the Sinadeen to the southern continent, then sail out on the Dar, a great featureless swamp where their only enemies are the leeches and biting bugs. And the boredom. On the far side of the Dar they climb a mountain, meet the Changer, have a confrontation with Ser Noris. Serroi touches Ser Noris’s hand and that frightens him so badly he is driven into instant flight and at the same time loses the concentration that has been holding off winter and focusing heat on the Valley and the mijloc. As Serroi and Hern are taken into Changer’s Mountain, the weather reverts to normal for the time of year and the first flakes of snow come drifting down on Valley and mijloc.