When Charsea accepts a fateful duel from her sister-in-law the origins and the importance of her cherished sword, the Raven, come to light. Victory or defeat, the Arcane Blades must press on through the Woad, but this is not the same woodland that they had been through before. As they tread ground both familiar and now unrestrained they will have to deal with the ramifications of their choices as consequences are made manifest by the evils of the winding woad.