Rattkin bookseller Fern Teverlin, formerly of the seaside town of Murk, has become dissatisfied with her life, and decides to relocate to the inland town of Thune, where her old friend Viv the
Orc had established the thriving
coffee shop Legends & Lattes. The plan is for Fern to open a new book shop in the building next door. On her journey, her coach comes under attack, and she and her fellow passengers are saved by the legendary
Elf Oathmaiden, Astryx One-Ear, wielder of the talking Elder Blade, Nigel. Reaching Thune and reuniting with Viv, Fern soon realizes she is still depressed. A night of drink in the wake of the new shop's grand opening ends with her falling asleep in a cart, which the next morning she discovers is that of her former rescuer, Astryx. Moreover, as they are well on their way to the elf's next destination, she had no easy way to get back to Thune. Astryx has captured the elusive goblin thief Zyll, on whom there is a bounty she intends to collect. Keeping Zyll captive is a hit or miss proposition, as the goblin tends to vanish and reappear at random intervals, seeming to remain with Astryx mostly as a matter of preference, and perhaps safety, since others are also after the bounty, and the Oathmaiden proves an able defender. Fern earns her place in the party by undertaking to translate for Zyll, who appears ignorant of the common speech of the Territory. The translation is hit-or-miss, since Fern's fluency in Goblin is limited to swear words, and ultimately unnecessary, since Zyll is later revealed to know the common speech after all. As the journey continues, however, Fern takes on the role of aide and squire to Astryx. The party has a series of encounters with seekers after the bounty; notably Chak the Pathless, a mage who is easily defeated by Astryx, and Orc warrior Tullah, leader of a band of adventurers who actually wants to
kill Zyll (and Astryx). Tullah beats Astryx and leaves her grievously wounded, but the party is saved by Zyll, who has her own Elder Blade (albeit breadknife sized), which she uses to destroy the bridge over the chasm on which the fight took place, stranding Tullah's band on the other side. She passes the blade on to Fern, who nicknames it Breadlee. The party recuperates in a monastery of Tarimite Rattkin devoted to saving the world by placating their death god, where they meet the bard Staysha, a Dwarf who because their companion for a time but ultimately betrays the group. The party also helps save the town of Bycross from mercenaries who have conned their way into becoming its protectors, defends a village against hybrid plant zombies, and is finally ambushed by Tullah's band again. During their journey with Astryx both Fern and Zyll prove their worth time and time again, and the three companions become close. In the city of Amberlin the matter of the bounty is resolved in an unexpected way, and the party separates. Fern is offered the position of Astryx's squire on a permanent basis, but declines, electing instead to return to Thune and make amends with Viv, write her memoirs, and travel on her own in the company of Quillin, another Rattkin she has encountered and become enamored with during her adventures. ==Relation to other works==