Timoken has been living in apparent safety at Castle Melyntha with his sister, Zobayda, but when he is betrayed and attacked, he is forced to flee into the forest with his magic camel and the wizard Eri, leaving his sister behind.

Prologue -- The arrow -- Escape -- Tree children -- A magic beast -- The widows' tower -- Deadly sands -- Half-ear and Worm-apple -- Eri's dream -- A dragon -- Outnumbered by animals -- The enchanted wall -- Spirit ancestors -- A ruin -- The Damzel of Decay -- In Castle Melyntha -- Black hounds -- Ravenglass soldiers -- Vanishing -- The wizard's grandchild -- Interview with Jenny Nimmo.