Summary

In Chapter 1: "The Terrace Room," 11-year-old Malcolm works at his family's inn the Trout near Oxford, England when he is not at school. Malcolm waits on three new guests, who include the old lord chancellor of the government Lord Nugent. They ask many questions about the priory across the river, including if the nuns there had ever taken care of an infant. Malcolm tries to answer their questions as best he can. His animal daemon, Asta, the other half of him, finds this suspicious - as do Malcolm's parents.

In Chapter 2: "The Acorn," Malcolm goes to the priory and tells the sisters about the three new visitors and their questions. He then goes on a trip in his canoe La Belle Sauvage and spots a mysterious man in the trees by the river. The man's daemon drops something and Asta retrieves it for...