contents prologue chapter 1 - princesses chapter 2 - the ball chapter 3 - princes chapter 4 - treason chapter 5 - spells chapter 6 - plans chapter 7 - leave takings chapter 8 - secrets chapter 9 - the seventh pass chapter 10 - the north keep chapter 11 - a letter chapter 12 - stave chapter 13 - allan 's secret chapter 14 - the vale of halros chapter 15 - snakewood chapter 16 - the fever swamps chapter 17 - into the dell chapter 18 - conspiracy chapter 19 - ruth chapter 20 - spiders chapter 21 - the foe cleaver chapter 22 - sophia 's choice chapter 23 - master drake chapter 24 - the sixth great spell chapter 25 - a dragon hunt chapter 26 - out of the vale chapter 27 - traitors chapter 28 - daniel 's reply chapter 29 - eyes to see chapter 30 - the travellers return chapter 31 - the next step epilogue appendix prologue at the midnight hour , three separate figures approached a small , circular , lake .