Brian has lost the amulet. It's being held inside a vault deep within the Protector's Keep and guarded by fairies. Meanwhile Howell has concocted a potent charisma potion that can charm people into giving you whatever you want.

Brian realises this is just what he needs to retrieve the amulet - he'll be able to walk straight through the front door of the keep (they'll even hold the door open). The only problem is that Steg needs the potion to woo a lonely Demi-Fin (top half of a woman, bottom half of a haddock), Barbara needs it to gain membership of the elite Seers' Guild and Howell hasn't been entirely honest about its side effects.