Silas Heap, an Ordinary Wizard, braves the bitter winter chill of the coldest night of the year to pay a visit to Galen,
the Physik woman. He had gone to get some herbs, as his wife Sarah had just given birth to their seventh son, Septimus, earlier that day. Silas and his family live in a huge stone building called The Ramblings, a crowded dwelling on the outer grounds of the Castle, which is filled to the brim with passages and rooms, small factories and schools, shops and tiny roof gardens. As the sun began to set, Silas quickened his pace, he needed to get the the Castle's drawbridge before they locked it at nightfall. Suddenly, Silas sensed something stirring nearby. His search in the surrounding area yielded a small
bundle left underneath a bush beside the path. To his surprise, it was a tiny baby, very cold and turning blue. Silas placed the baby inside his cloak and hurried home. He reached the drawbridge just in time and managed to convince Gringe the Gatekeeper, to let him through with a silver penny. As Silas disappeared into the shadows of the tunnel that led to the Ramblings, a tall figure emerged in front of him. It was Marcia Overstrand, the newly appointed ExtraOrdinary Wizard. Silas was not particularly fond of Marcia, who had once been his rival. Before he could speak, Marcia told him to keep the baby as his own and never let anyone know that he had found her. The shocked Silas nodded and Marcia disappeared in an instant. As he carried the baby home, his mind raced. Who was this baby? What did Marcia have to do with her? Why has Marcia been made the ExtraOrdinary Wizard? As Silas reached the red door of his home, it burst open. The Matron Midwife ran out,
carrying a small bundle covered from head to toe in bandages. "Dead!" she screamed, whisking the bundle away. Entering through the door, Silas saw his wife and six white-faced boys. "She has taken him" says Sarah, "Septimus is dead". At that moment, Silas felt a warm wetness spread from the small bundle he was carrying. Unable to say a word, he placed the small bundle in his wife's arms and the grieving Sarah burst into tears. To be continued in Chapter 2