There was a war on when Thomas was young, and now that it's done, he finds a dubious retirement from soldiering in acting as a magic man. He's worn the mantle of a wizard long enough that he can't remember whether he actually is one, and he suspects that no one else much cares whether he is. Wandering into the Hellebore, Thomas is asked to bring to life again the dead son of its baron, and he uses the opportunity to resolve what he'll be for the rest of his life.
