In the city of Berren, strange things happen. People disappear, trees sprout overnight. But no one believes in magic. To believe in magic would be disloyal… The devious Lord Rump and his granddaughter, Duckling, need a disposable boy, and Pummel, a farm boy looking for work in the city, fits the bill perfectly. Duckling is happy to tangle him in her grandpa's web, as long as Grandpa keeps his promise - that this will be his very last Scheme. Lord Rump's intrigues take both children into the Strong-hold of Berren - where time has stopped - and before long they are entwined in a plot to kill the heir to the Faithful Throne. If they want to protect the Young Margrave, and save themselves from an awful death, Duckling and Pummel must learn to use the magic that no one believes in.

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...

The Harshman brought his fist down on the arm of the Faithful Throne, and roared to the sleeping people, 'I ... Am ... Margrave ... Now.' Having escaped the salt mines, Duckling, Pummel, Sooli and Otte return to the Strong-hold to find out who is responsible for raising the murderous Harshman. But with Grafine von Eisen ruling as Regent, all that awaits them is the dungeon and the executioner's axe. The children must hide in the Strong-hold's stone walls, while Sooli walks the path of death, searching desperately for clues. And when the Harshman arrives, turning friends and allies against each other, time is running out. With no one on their side but a cat, a ghost, and a chicken who has forgotten her true identity, the children must use all their wits - and all their magic - to defeat the Harshman before he becomes unstoppable.