When Tulla became a mage, she thought she would spend most of it reading books, writing papers and running errands for her drop-dead gorgeous master. Gone are the days drudging away at a factory. Hell, ya! So when, her dear master asks her to go on an astrological expedition to retrieve a comet in a foreign land, she jumps at the chance, thinking that it would be like a vacation with fame and a decent award attached, but it quickly becomes a nightmare.

Gross bugs, dust, backwards and dirty villagers, and walking, so much walking. She would give anything for a toilet and plumbing, right now. But Master Alvon smile keeps her going, she can manage she thinks. But then that is taken away from her.