Assassins are lurking in the forest's shadows, their intentions and motives unknown, while a tyrannical industrialist plots to exploit the natural resources of this magical world.

[4] After the head Mystic, Iphigenia, is murdered by Darla, Prue travels to the Great Tree and learns that she must find "the Makers" and "re-animate the true heir, the twice-died boy".

They help to overthrow an usurper and learn that one of the two Makers built the moles' elaborate, underground city after he was banished by the Governess (who also ordered that his hands be removed).

Much to their surprise, he's a bear named Esben who, despite having two golden hooks in place of his front paws, has spent his many years in exile performing elaborate tricks in a circus tent.

In a parallel thread, Curtis' two sisters Elsie and Rachel are left in an orphanage in Portland while their parents travel to Istanbul to pursue a lead in their son's disappearance.

The orphanage is a front for a machine shop run by Joffrey Unthank, an industrialist who is determined to find his way into the Impassable Wilderness and plunder its resources.