Raven's Gift

Raven, Castia and Normian ask the Wizard Orkandus to come to Shelton's aid by attacking the Warriors. Orkandus is furious; he cannot kill innocent people! Raven persuades Orkandus that the Warriors are not people, so he can spell against them. As she frames her intricate argument, she earns Normian and Castia's enmity. The Willems enables Orkandus to pinpoint his foe, and he tells the companions that he will be up against a mightier wizard. But he agrees to help them and restores Raven's friends to friendship with her. The wizard gives each of the three a blessing, and sends them back to Captain Fenger. As they travel, Normian spies a falcon accompanying them on their return.

The full group meets with Orvannon. Raven also sees him in private and brings him up to date on her travels and discoveries. Orvannon arranges to make a primitive gunpowder bomb. Raven, Normian and Castia try to visit Orkandus, the shape-changer and illusionist who does not wish to be disturbed. They brave great challenges to win an opportunity to wash awful odors off their bodies in the wizard's cellar.

Raven and her group kill more Warriors. They report Raven's skill at sensing them to Trixmurs, so she puts them on the dangerous Western wing. They go out with reinforcements, and at last they will find out what the Warriors are really doing.

Raven finds Normian, Castia and Daniel in the Southern Detail. She tells her friends what she has been doing, lying carefully to conceal the black powder she carries, and her special sense of smell. They tell her that they protect Shelton from Warriors, monstrous men who fight to the death. On her first field sortie, she's horribly surprised by the sight and smell of her first Warrior, and her friends begin to suspect that she has a unique ability to find more of them.

Raven enters the great city of Shelton. She finds a place to stay. She pays an adventurous visit to Gondia Alley, where she hopes to buy a knife. And she discovers the truth about "finger or Fenger". This is the last chapter of Part Two, which is called 'Wrong.' Somehow, Raven winds up in Shelton's army.

Mari nurses Raven back to health. But she also asks Raven hard questions about the life she lives. Mari and Raven experiment with the Willems. Raven gets strong again, and at last she's ready to enter the great city, Shelton.

Raven discovers how Myrn has been punished. Myrn gives Raven more advice about her Willems, and reveals Orvannon's secret. Raven almost reaches Shelton, but has a dispute with an ash tree.

Chattering about Ausland and Jomes, the four companions decide to go north. They wish to warn a man named Lanndys that Jomes wants to steal something from him. But they arrive too late, and crazy Lanndys gives them a very hard time, turning Raven's friends over to soldiers, and imprisoning Raven to further his own ends. Raven makes an excellent escape, but now: she's on her own.

Raven comes upon Daniel at Corpoth. He joins her on the way to Shelton. They meet up with Normian and Castia, and encounter more soldiers looking for the boot Raven stole. She tries to lie her way out of a tight spot, and Daniel comes to her rescue.

Raven persuades Callum not to become a murderer. Or does she? She takes something from a corpse that makes her a pursued woman. And she meets 'Fermus', the bizarre creature that helps her to escape.