Daja Kisubo and her teacher, the Fire Dedicate Frostpine, are visiting the Bancanors in northern Namorn. While staying with them in Kugisko Daja also befriends the two older daughters of the family; twins Niamara and Jorality Bancanor. The younger girls even try to teach Daja how to ice-skate. But not all is well in Kugisko. Although winter has just begun there have been more fires in the city built of wood than there were all summer, which is the normal season for fires. Fortunately the city can rely on Bennat Ladradun, a young man who studied with the famous mage Pawel Godsforge to learn efficient ways to battle the fires, even though he doesn't possess any magical ability. After his return from Godsforge he convinced the city's council to let him train the inhabitants in fighting fires and organizing a fire brigade.