Gretchen, who is learning to be a witch, leaves home to study with Grizelda. There is trouble brewing - well, not so much brewing as quietly simmering on a low heat, looking innocent Grizelda's crystal ball will only show a vague shape behind a thick red fog. Is it smoke from dragon fire? Could the shape be Wil, the stranger from a different world, who blunders in where others don't dare to? Whatever it is, Gretchen hopes she will be in the middle of any adventure that crops up, even though she hasn't passed Stage One of Witchery yet. But dark magic should never be stirred up- it gets indigestion and comes back with enough force to knock you off your feet