The residents of Gettys believed that Nevar Burv, their cemetery watchman, was guilty of monstrous atrocities. In this border city-fortress, reprisal against a criminal was never long in coming, but this time it did not take place - the fury of the crowd gave way to the witchcraft of invisible rulers who decided to take the fate of the young man into their own hands. Nevar goes to the forest - the magicians want to turn it into a weapon that will help stop the Gernian invasion of the lands of the Speci people. And Nevar is close to submitting to their will, because any attempt at resistance gives him nothing but pain and despair, and he no longer believes that he is able to reconcile his sworn enemies.