At long last, the wars of magic are over, but the malaise of war lingers in his head and heart. Directionless for whatever time he has left, Norim answers a summons to the rural village where his uncle lived, so he can discharge his familial obligation of dealing with the man's property. The people of Forspel are kind but strange, and they seem all too eager for him to join their number and to take over the care of the old family orchard. Foremost among them is Unia, his uncle's knowledgeable but solitary neighbor who teaches him about tending the trees. While he is there, Norim hears whispers of a spirit, revered and feared, and of a forbidden wood outside of town. As the seasons cycle and his uncle's orchard slowly revives, Norim finds himself drawn to the curious little village and its inhabitants, but most of all, to their secrets. What will remain in the realm of reality, and what pushes the boundaries of the magical?