Rixon of the Forge is a taciturn widower with a sad past. When his long-lost brother's pet bird turns up, he is determined to follow the clues of Keaton's disappearance and to discover his fate. While Rixon plans to take the journey alone, the village Matchmaker has other ideas. Through trickery and witchcraft she weds Rixon to Bethany of the Del, and the blacksmith has no choice but to drag his unwanted young wife with him through the terrors of Thaldoran in pursuit of a golden parrot. Little does Rixon realise that Bethany is more than just an ordinary woman, and through her quick wit and...

The Tale of Eleanor Taubman returns to the world of Thaldoran, forty years before the adventure of Bethany Wikken and Rixon of the Forge. Eleanor Taubman possesses a range of magical powers, called tricks, and is ecstatic to be accepted as a student by Shyrebonne Magery. Unfortunately, on arrival young Eleanor suffers the humiliating designation of Background Blender and spends her entire school life battling with self-doubt. As a mature woman, Eleanor suffers a magical mishap at the school and is thrown across the known lands to the southern country of the Fairlynds where the adventure of...