Raven's Gift

Orvannon congratulates Raven for killing Wyrm. Gretel almost kills Raven, but once again, her Willems come to the rescue. Unfortunately, Gretel does destroy Orvannon's orders to Raven. What's Raven to do? And she has to do something about little Trudie. And her adventures are just beginning. This is the last chapter of Part One, which is called: Wyrm.

Castia and Normian say goodbye and leave Walthorn. Using her new artifact, the magic Willems, Raven finds a way to confront Wyrm. Afterwards, exhausted, she sends Orvannon a message about what she's done.

Raven returns to Walthorn. Derk blocks her way, but Dunjle rescues her. Castia's special friend Normian, the archer, is now staying at Walthorn, and Raven spends a night with them. She tries out her unlocker, and it works. And Jomes tempts Raven with the free-knife, a throwing knife that is deadly accurate.

Raven rescues Myrn. Raven gets the strange magical artifact that Myrn recommended, but she has no idea how to kill wyrm with it. Orvannon tracks Raven down, and they have hard words about Raven's choice.

Raven goes to Gardia, seeking some magic to help her defeat the dragony Wyrm. Her docent at the museum will be young Myrn, who seems inexperienced but has remarkable knowledge of the museum. Myrn suggests a bizarre piece of nose-magic to Raven. Could this artifact possibly help her?

Raven fights a pig and loses, but wins, by saving Gretel and her young charge Trudie. Raven meets Ned and learns a great lesson about life, and about counting silver. Raven studies Wyrm, having no idea how to kill it. She decides she needs to go to Gardia Museum, to find a magical artifact that will help her.

Raven arranges to stay at Walthorn for awhile. She meets Gretel again, and also Gretel's nasty associates. Raven and Castia -- her new magical Zhouraini friend -- get even with Derk.

Raven tells Orvannon how she performed her last job for him. Then: "Kill the Wyrm," he says. Raven moves to Walthorn to work on her new task. On the way, she finds the corpse of a murdered woman. She also visits an 'Honester', where we learn about the religion of northern Ausland.

Raven comes to Redthwen to find her mentor, Orvannon. She meets the hag Gretel and dangerous Garfie. This chapter includes a rape, a murder, and Raven's first encounter with the monster dragon she calls 'Wyrm'.