Poppet: A small figure of a human being used in sorcery and in witchcraft. Ardal's relentless search for his roots leads him back to the bayou in Louisiana where he meets a beautiful girl named Ember, and learns more doll magick from his mentor, Angelique LaFontaine. Another of Ardal's Oracle dreams leads him to the Everglades where he becomes embroiled in a dangerous quest to find missing young girls.