Following Sir Hamral's formal installment as Bailiff of Upchurch, Valerius asks Helena and Hermia if the broken axe they saw in their dream resembled the axe borne by Sir Charles the Castellan of Antace, but the girls are unsure. Hamral consults with Count Durell regarding possible improvements to the defenses of Upchurch, news of the escaped witches, and finding a new forester. Kirke gives Hamral complete authority over the administration and defense of Upchurch, and relates that the witches have not been heard from since they fled into Harplan.

Meanwhile, St. James attempts to establish a public house in Upchurch, and the consortes gather there to discuss their next move. Valerius notes that recent adventures have given two sets of old enemies new reasons to hate our heroes: Sarpedon, for the loss of his brother Minos; and Busirane, Hecatesseus, and Tim Sharpe, for the loss of a shipment of rare magical ingredients. After some debate, the group decides they would like to investigate the Ormsnine, mysterious standing stones north of Upchurch, before heading to Utterbol to free Nestor from Sarpedon's dungeons.

The entire group save Mendelor travels to the Ormsnine, which Valerius finds to be a source of great magical power. However, no one can find any way to tap into the ancient mystery, so the group decides to spend the night on the Riggesback before turning toward Utterbol. However, the next morning Friar Sidrach has vanished, leaving all his equipment behind and no trace of where he has gone. All attempts to locate the Gerdardian, both magical and mundane, turn up absolutely nothing. Valerius, fearing that the Friar has somehow slipped out of the mortal realm into another place, mounts one of his conjured steeds and makes off for the Lady of the Keep, in the hope that she may be able to help. The rest of the group, loath to spend another night on the Riggesback, reluctantly returns to Upchurch.

Once home, the consortes decide to question Helena and Hermia, and the little girls provide a surprisingly detailed source of insight into the predicament. The girls confirm that Sidrach has probably slipped the mundane world and is likely now a guest of beings they call the Kindly Ones. The girls warn that if Sidrach has eaten any of their food or accepted any of their gifts, he is beyond recovery. The girls suggest that if the consortes meet the Kindly Ones, they must be very careful not to break any of the many special rules that obtain on the other side, and that these powerful, ancient beings must be afforded the utmost courtesy. When asked what sorts of gifts might appease these creatures, the girls suggest human babies, clothing, or food. The Kindly Ones also enjoy mortal music, but have no need for gold and would be offended by the very presence of iron.

Armed with this knowledge, and fearful that the jovial Friar may have already partaken of the Kindly Ones' hospitality, the group quickly gathers some clothes, Blackbelly, and cheese, and makes for the Ormsnine without Valerius. Once there, Vandoren plays on his psaltery until everyone but Hamral falls asleep on the enchanted hill and wakes up to find the landscape transformed: instead of a cold winter night, they find themselves in mid summer at twilight. A huge apple tree, laden with fruit, stands nearby, and hanging upside down from the tree, tangled in many ropes, is the Friar, moaning and crying for help. Beside him stand two figures like beautiful young girls, one holding a basket of apples, the other a great jar of cider, offering this bounty to the Gerardian.

The two fair figures are not surprised to see these strangers and even compliment Vandoren on his singing. They are impressed with the mortal men's mastery of the strange customs of the other side and willingly accept the gifts proffered them, but express reluctance to give up Friar Sidrach. Vandoren offers to play for them in exchange for the freedom of his friend, and the Kindly Ones agree that if the minstrel's song is pleasing enough, they will release Sidrach.

Vandoren begins to sing the ballad of the "Barefooted Friar," and his music echoes throughout the twilight hills. Vandoren's playing is exceptional, and the next thing anyone remembers is waking up back in the mortal world in the shadows of the Ormsnine. Everyone is mostly fine, although the Friar is near dead from starvation, claiming he had been captive for over a month on the other side. Vandoren finds that his fingers are bleeding from playing his psaltery, and discovers that his old instrument has been replaced with a new one of exceedingly clever and beautiful craftsmanship. This psaltery is perfectly tuned and enchanted to play by itself when asked.

The reunited group returns to Upchurch to wait for Valerius. Meanwhile, at the Lady's tower Valerius learns of his companions' successful venture into the other side. The magician asks the Lady about the terrible curse that has stricken women on the Frounter; the Lady says that the witches had summoned a terrible entity into this world that is the cause of these troubles, and that the curse will continue as long as this force remains unchecked. Valerius also asks about his efforts with Helena and Hermia, which the Lady endorses.

Valerius returns to Upchurch, and he, Hamral, Sidrach, Vandoren, Marcus, St. James, Renton, and Owen travel to Utterbol. St. James and Owen examine the secret entrance to Briareus's dungeons, but discover that the entrance has been destroyed. However, they find that a new, huge cave has been recently excavated nearby. The two men steal into the cave entrance, which tunnels deep into the rock beneath Utterbol. The cave is completely dark, but Owen and St. James can hear loud, ominous muttering further into the cave. The two scouts press on, but raise the attention of something monstrous in the cave. The thing begins bellowing in the darkness and gives chase as Owen and St. James race back to the rest of the party. Owen turns once and sees in the cave entrance a horrible giant, towering over fourteen feet tall and with three snarling, bellowing heads.

The creature's cries raise an alarm in Utterbol Castle, and soon the ruck-man garrison has assembled a search party of forty Black-Blades. Sir Hamral decides that the group should make a stand, and mounted on Fiasco he wheels about and charges the ruckish lines. The rest of the consortes close and engage the ruck-men. Our heroes tear through the Black-Blades conscripts when Noxumbra reports that the giant, accompanied by ten mounted rucks, is almost upon them. Just then Mendelor unexpectedly appears from out of nowhere, dirty and tired but ready to help his friends in their hour of need.

Valerius prepares to summon a powerful ally to combat the giant, but the magician in black is unexpectedly struck by a huge stone thrown by the monster and the summoning is ruined. Sidrach calls down a rain of holy fire on the giant, but it shrugs off much of the damage; the Friar is then himself struck by a hurled stone. Owen fires poisoned arrows and Renton breathes a gout of fire at the giant, but neither attempt seems to faze the creature much.

The giant lashes out with a huge greatclub and inflicts terrible devastation whenever it hits. The giant quickly dispatches a slew of conjured minions called up by Valerius. Meanwhile the consortes try to hold off the mounted rucks, gradually whittling down their numbers. Mendelor attempts to engage the giant, but is hurt so badly that the woodsman is forced to retreat out of the giant's reach. Owen and St. James pelt the creature with arrows while Hamral sweeps in and out with Fiasco, stabbing with his lance.

Marcus, after dueling with a ruck captain turns and charges headlong into the giant. The Lamarite stabs into the giant, but the creature's devastating reply slays the brave Marcus. The giant then reveals a nasty surprise as it breathes fire from all three of its heads; Mendelor is overcome by the roaring flames. Meanwhile Noxumbra reports that even more ruckish reinforcements are on the way.

With all of the mounted rucks killed and two consortes down, our heroes prepare for one final, desperate assault. Friar Sidrach materializes out of nowhere right before the giant, the Gerardian empowered with holy might. Twirling his quarterstaff, Sidrach lays down much damage against the giant, who only now begins to show signs of fatigue. This onslaught is followed up by Valerius, who utters a single word of power that stuns the giant, which drops its club and staggers backward. Just then Sir Hamral charges in, his lance piercing the giant's chest and slaying the three-headed monstrosity.

Friar Sidrach takes the creature's club and disappears; the rest of the consortes grab their wounded and flee as hundreds of rucks begin to pour on to the field of battle.

All values are given as 3E experience points.