Sir Parrik leads Bariq, Caradoc, and Arty to deal with a cursed place centered on a standing stone near his domain of Lowerthorn. They demolish the menhir only to find that the effect persists - digging down they discover that there is a malevolent sword there thirsty for blood and looking for a new wielder. Bariq tries to Identify the sword but falls prey to it and tries to murder his friends! They try to restrain him while Arty tries to get the sword safely away to the Dead Magic Zone about thirty miles away.