The young shaman Inglis kin Wolfcliffe became involved in a dark story that cost the life of his friend Tollin, and went on the run. On his trail is senior investigator Osvil from the Order of the Father. Finding himself without assistants in the city of Martensbridge, Osvil turns to the authorities and receives several soldiers and a sorcerer as reinforcements. True, the sorcerer, who is also an initiate of the Order of the Bastard, seems somewhat strange to him. But as their search progresses, Osvil has to make sure that this young man named Penric is not at all as simple as he looks at first...