Mags, Herald Spy of Valdemar, and his wife, Amily, are happily married with three kids. The oldest, Peregrine, has the Gift of animal Mindspeech, and his dream is to follow in his father's footsteps as a Herald Spy.

But there is growing rural unrest in a community on the border of Valdemar. A report filled with tales of strange disappearances and missing peddlers is sent to Haven by a Herald from the Pelagirs. To let Perry experience life away from home, Mags proposes that his son accompany him on an expedition to discover what is really going on.

During their travels, Perry's Mindspeech allows him to communicate with the local wildlife of the Pelagirs, whose connection to the land aids in their investigation. But the details he gleans only deepen the mystery. They must discover the truth behind the disappearances-before those disappearances turn deadly...