Duckling and Pummel are trying to take the Young Margrave to a place of safety, far away from the dreadful Harshman. But they have enemies they don't know about, and all too soon they find themselves captured and taken to the salt mines, where slaves work night and day until they die. Their witchery should save them, but their witchery has gone, vanished. How will they get it back? Is the girl Sooli their friend or their enemy? And why is Otte's chicken behaving so strangely? Meanwhile, the Harshman has broken out of the Strong-hold, and is on their trail.