The novel's protagonist, Esk is born on the night that Wizard Drum Billet comes to Bad Ass and entrusts his staff to her tiny newborn hand as his last act in life. The eighth son of eighth sons have a potential to become wizards, but this eighth son turns out to be a girl. Esk's father, Gordo, wonders about these things and hides the staff safely away. For seven years, Granny Weatherwax, the local witch and midwife, also watches—for emerging signs of magic.
At seven, Esk is brown haired and gap toothed, showing promise of becoming "attractively interesting" if not beautiful when grown. When she and her brothers check on Granny during the winter, they find her apparently dead. A crow-Granny frightens Esk, sitting with the body awaiting help, she flees into the forest,.....
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