The talking head has red curls,green eyes,and a stroppy personality,and is accompanied by an equally tiresome talking raven.The head has been (by its own request)severed from its body during a battle between the Tuans and the Vemorians,and now demands to be restored to it.Gilly and Hal-who inadvertently walked through an arch and into a time outside time and space,and fell into conversation with a Tuan boy called Lugh-get landed with the job.Their adventures with and without the head are funny,exciting and unexpected.