While Guards Saxon, Kenzie, and Lieam are off searching for the missing grain mouse, another of the Guard, Sadie, is dispatched to a shore outpost of the mice territories. Conrad, the mouse posted there, has failed to stay in touch with the outside world for far too long. This next chapter opens the intrigue as to how the grain mouse came to have the map of Lockhaven, home of the Mouse Guard. And a crusty peg- legged mouse tells the tale to boot!