Amandine is settling into her position as Chef Brutsche's apprentice at Manor L'Eau and living in the Gold Hills with her new parents. She has her friends, a job she loves, and a real home for the first time. There's even a hint of magic, perhaps a remnant of Hemm's spell, that lingers around her. It's not all sugarsap, though. Sister Corbin won't go away, working in a noble's kitchen can be stressful, and Fredderick is, well, Fredderick. Despite it all, life is luminous. The kettle gets tipped, however, when blight The kettle gets tipped, however, when blight strikes the food reserves of the Gold Hills just before the Shiv, and throws everything Amandine has gained into question. Now she must take on new responsibilities, solve difficult problems, and make a choice about where she needs to be. In addition to that, the strange lingering enchant- ment around her seems to be growing stronger, not fading. The dwarves of the Seven Hammers may have at least some of the answers to the troubles facing Amandine and the Gold Hills, but to reach them, she'll have to leave her newfound place of comfort and go on a journey that will change her life forever.