Natasha is invited (although there really isn't an option for turning it down) to visit Isolde at the Gnarly Tree. There she finds Isolde the witch burning crossbow quarrels to ash, and then miming putting them back into the quiver.

The reason Natasha is invited along is that Isolde knows she plans on settling in the abandoned town of Silverheath to the north, and claims that Natasha will have to become the new town's witch. As part of showing her what's involved, she and Morgan take the Mage to see various out-of-town Skeek families.

Most of the visits involve home remedies and some mumbo-jumbo to make people take the medicine. One visit is to an ancient Kadie who shoots spirit arrows at Natasha, thinking she's Death coming for him. Isolde restocks his arrows and checks him over.

The final stop is to the cottage of a pair of mutant horned Skeeks, whose infant is comatose. Isolde tells them she might save the baby, but they must let her take it away. Outside, she explains that the child has a spirit disorder – its spirit died before it was born.

They take the child to the stockade, where the Chronotopian priest is being held, and make him an offer that could save the child's life.