"In every Zhalfirin town (for Fola is Zhalfirin--have I forgotten to tell you that?) is a group of five wise men and women, the guildmages who balance the city's needs. Fola is the Civic Guildmage and the youngest. Tulu, the Armorer Guildmage, is older and perhaps wiser. Who are the others? you ask. I tell you, They are the Shaper and Shadow and Granger Guildmages. You ask me: Where are they in this tale? I tell you, This is Fola's tale. They are sick or busy or gone, and their stories are their own. Fola must face this without them."