 Following the events in The Bone Doll's Twin, Prince Tobin awakens after the witch Lhel reveals that he was born as a girl, but in view of the king's purge of all possible female heirs that threaten him, Tobin was disguised by magic, wearing the shape of his stillborn brother, whose bones are encased in the little doll his mother carried everywhere with her.Tobin's squire Ki (Kirothius) was gravely injured in coming to find Tobin.They recover for a time under the care of the wizard Iya.