Events take place in a Christian territory that approximates medieval Europe. The villages of St. Toby's-by-theMountain (St. Toby's for short) and Griswold are the scenes of most of the action. They are separated from each other by a mountain. Griswold is about three day's riding on horseback from a sea port. The villagers are by and large superstitious; those of St. Toby's readily believe that Alys is a witch on very flimsy evidence and are all too willing to execute a girl who has been a friend and neighbor all of her life. The roads are muddy; the homes are spare; and farm animals are kept in people's yards. Beyond the villages are farms, some deserted, and woodlands.

Dragon's Bait conveys well a rural atmosphere in which people survive primarily by hard physical labor.