Raina sneaks through Silver Hollow to steal bread, which she hides in her pack. She plots to capture the Witch Collector, kill her enemies, and flee. Unlike other Witch Walkers, Raina is mute and can’t chant spells aloud in Elikesh (the language of the Ancient Ones, which is used to sing spells). Few know she can cast spells using signed Elikesh, though it’s more complex and slower. Because Raina bears no witch marks (complex runic symbols that appear on a Witch Walker’s body and indicate the powers they wield), most believe that she has no power. A dove crashes into her door, and Raina secretly heals it. Healing drains her, but only Nephele knows she possesses this gift. Each time she heals something near death, she feels the death coil inside her.

She reflects on her home in the Northlands, ruled by the Frost King. The continent of Tiressia remains divided: The Summerlands in the south and the Eastlands in the east both vie for control of the City of Ruin, home to the Grove of the Gods (a burial ground for Tiressia’s gods). The Frost King keeps the Northlands neutral—at the cost of its citizens’ autonomy.

Raina takes the God Knife from its hiding place. Her father, Rowan, once claimed that the sorcerer Un Drallag forged it from a god’s rib. He stated that the knife could kill anything, even the undead and gods. The knife vanished after Nephele’s abduction, but a group of farmers recently found it. Finn Owyn’s father recognized the weapon and returned it. Raina tries to sharpen it but cuts herself and asks Finn for help. Her mother, Ophelia, warns her not to let hatred guide her.

Raina heads to the Owyns’ blacksmith shop. She reflects on her hatred, not for the village but for her lack of choice. Witch Walkers guard the Northland’s edge and maintain a magickal barrier around Frostwater Wood. Only one entry point exists, guarded at Hampstead Loch. Raina wonders whether the barrier is to keep something out or in.

Outside the temple, she greets Finn’s mother and four sisters. Her best friend, Helena, looks worried. The village hunters haven’t returned. Helena asks Raina to pray to Loria, the goddess of creation. Though Raina doesn’t believe, she agrees but refuses to honor Neri, whom she blames for creating the Frost King.

At the shop, Raina greets the dog she once secretly healed. She asks Finn to sharpen the God Knife. He knows she lies about its purpose. When she admits its identity, he agrees to help but warns that she can’t defeat the Witch Collector. They recall their former relationship, which ended three years earlier when Finn refused to flee the Northlands with her.

The Frost King, Colden Moeshka, warns Alexus, the Witch Collector, that something feels wrong. Alexus insists that he can’t miss collecting day. Colden fears the Prince of the East may break their peace accord and try to capture Colden to use against Fia Drumera, the Fire Queen of the Summerlands. Alexus doubts the threat, thinking the borders are secure.

Colden worries not for himself but for his people. He reveals disturbing dreams that he believes are warnings from the Ancient Ones. Colden and Alexus speak of Raina. Alexus knows Nephele often mentions her but only recently revealed Raina’s Seer gift. Colden believes that she may be their only hope despite her muteness and lack of marks. He urges Alexus to leave quickly and avoid nightfall.

Raina helps Ophelia prepare the feast, worrying about the hunters. An elder named Mena warns Raina that victory requires sacrifice. Raina tries to sneak away to scry, but Finn follows. Professing his love, he confesses that her obsession with revenge and escape destroyed their relationship. He prefers the certainty of the life he knows in Silver Hollow. They argue.

As villagers grow nervous about the Witch Collector’s lateness, Raina parts from Finn and uses her scrying bowl. She sees Warek, Finn’s father, passed out drunk and then locates the Witch Collector riding outside Hampstead Loch.

Alexus rides into Hampstead Loch but declines the elder’s invitation to the festival. A boy grabs his boot, and Alexus lifts him playfully. Before the villagers can relax, fire-tipped arrows strike. The stables burn. Eastlanders appear, accompanied by their crows (which they use to attack and spy). One Eastlander stabs Alexus. He knocks the attacker unconscious but feels a strange familiarity with another red-haired Eastlander.

Alexus saves the boy and his mother, and the village elder chants a magick spell into Alexus’s horse (Mannus), forcing them to flee to Penrith. Alexus alerts the villagers and helps fight off another attack. He then leads survivors to Littledenn. He realizes that Witch Walkers guarding Frostwater Wood have likely died.

At Littledenn, no one has warned Silver Hollow. Alexus rides there next.

The festival begins at Silver Hollow. Ophelia weaves flowers into Raina’s hair. Helena reveals her plan to join the Watch. Raina feels betrayed that Helena never told her.

Finn dances with Raina and then steals the God Knife and runs off. Raina starts after him when the sounds of children screaming as they crest the hill stops the celebration. The Witch Collector appears and warns of an attack. He instructs the weak and young to flee to the orchard. Raina and Ophelia run home to find weapons.

Ophelia tries to keep Raina safe, but Raina insists on helping. She knows some swordplay from Helena. Together, they return to the green. Ophelia joins the Witch Walkers in raising the barrier, but it rises slowly.

Raina spots the Witch Collector searching the village. When a girl points at Raina, he turns, and their eyes meet. Raina considers killing him but focuses on helping the village.

The Eastlanders arrive. Their crows and fire arrows breach the magickal shield. The village burns.

Alexus debates whether to flee with Raina or keep fighting, but he loses her in the chaos. He joins the battle, noticing that the Eastlanders use ancient Summerlander fire magick. Finn blocks an arrow meant for Alexus, saving his life. Alexus returns the favor, saving Finn and his sister.

Alexus watches as Raina attacks with a scythe, killing two Eastlanders. Distracted, another Eastlander wounds Alexus. He finds Raina with Ophelia, surrounded by fire and smoke. Ophelia casts powerful spells, summoning rain and the killing crows. Alexus realizes that she hid both her power and Raina’s. Then, the Prince of the East appears.

An Eastlander woman attacks Ophelia, but Helena kills her. Raina finds Mena dying and tries to heal her, but Mena refuses, reminding Raina that sacrifice is necessary. Raina runs to Ophelia, who continues casting magick. An Eastlander attacks Ophelia, and Raina kills him, but another pierces Ophelia with a spear.

The Prince of the East approaches Raina, his body veiled in crimson shadows. Raina runs. Alexus arrives and yells for her to flee. The Prince stabs Alexus twice. Raina grabs Alexus’s sword and drives it into the Prince’s chest. He vanishes in a puff of smoke. Witch marks appear on Raina’s hands, and the God Knife appears before her.

The Prince reappears and speaks to Raina. She slashes him across the face with the God Knife. He screams, swears revenge, and vanishes again.

Raina tries to save Ophelia but fails. She runs to Finn’s house and finds three charred bodies: Finn’s mother and the twins. At the fallow field, no one waits. Grief overwhelms her.

Alexus finds her and collapses. Raina considers killing him. He asks her to sing him back to life. She walks away.

Alexus reflects on Raina’s power; she’s a Seer and a Resurrectionist. He wishes to warn Raina, guide her, or beg her to go to Littledenn. He worries about the Prince of the East, who now houses multiple souls and has walked in the Shadow Word (the realm of the dead). Raina returns and sings a song using sign language to revive Alexus.

Raina wakes several times, weak and sore. She sees Alexus casting stardrop petals into the stream to honor the dead. He holds her mother’s bowl, and grief overwhelms her. He comforts her and helps her wash the blood from her hands. Raina’s skin glows with multicolored witch marks.

Alexus tells her that Ophelia hid her marks just as she hid Raina’s. He knows Raina’s name because Nephele spoke often of her and taught him sign language. He claims a close friendship with Nephele. Enraged, Raina attacks him, but Alexus subdues her. He promises that Nephele asked him never to take Raina from Silver Hollow because Ophelia needed family after Rowan’s death. They argue and then pause to focus on survival.

Alexus explains that they recently learned of the Prince’s plan to break the Northlands treaty. Nephele revealed Raina’s power so that they could test the rumor. Raina asks why the Eastlanders want the Frost King. Alexus says they want to capture him.

Raina aligns herself with the Witch Collector to stop the Eastlanders. Alexus says the Witch Walkers at Winterhold will raise a powerful barrier using Vast magick, an ancient and mostly forgotten magick that allows Witch Walkers to defend from afar. Raina hopes they, too, can benefit from the magick, but Alexus warns that travel will still be hard. Moreover, they can’t travel until Raina can cast magick again. She collapses, exhausted.

Raina waits as Alexus travels to Littledenn for supplies. She bathes and thinks of her mother. She scries the Eastlanders and sees them lost in the forest, struggling. She attempts to locate the God Knife, but her scrying only reveals that it’s in a dark place. When she scries the Prince of the East, shadows cloud the water. He appears and looks directly at her.

Terrified, Raina throws out the water and convinces herself that he’s dead. When Alexus returns, she tells him only about the soldiers, hiding her vision of the Prince. He gives her a white mare and new gear. Raina reflects on the missing God Knife and wonders if either Alexus or the Prince has it.

Alexus cuts her dress for easier riding. Raina grieves, remembering that her mother made it. Alexus introduces himself by name and gives her a dagger. When she asks again why the Eastlanders want the Frost King, he deflects. She explains that she can’t scry people she has never seen and thus can’t search for the Frost King.

Instead, Raina scries for the Eastlanders, who are still scared and lost. Alexus seems surprised that she can read emotions through scrying. Together, they head into the forest.