In the first book, "The Riddle-Master of Hed" Land-Ruler Morgon of Hed wins a bride and a crown in a riddling contest with a ghost. He sets sail in pursuit of answers, and detours to the College of Riddle-Masters at Caithnard. His companion for the journey is Deth, the 1,000 year-old High One's harpist. They are shipwrecked, and once Morgon regains his memory he discovers he has unknown shape-changing enemies who are trying to destroy him. Fleeing through his kingdoms, he is befriended by various land-rulers and gifted with a harp and sword decorated with three stars identical to birthmark stars on his forehead. He learns how to change his shape into beasts and trees, makes his way to Erlenstar Mountain with Deth hoping that the High One will solve the riddle of his stars and defend him against his enemies.

The second book in the trilogy is "Heir of Sea and Fire" and begins in the spring of the year following the strange disappearance of the Morgon and Deth. Raederle, Morgon's betrothed, struggles against her shape-changer heritage, but gradually begins to tap into its power in order to protect Morgon and has reason to believe him dead, since the land-rule of Hed has passed to his brother, Eliard. In a key passage, Raederle asks Deth a riddle and the importance of the question lies in the inability of the harpist to answer it.

In the final book of the trilogy, "Harpist in the Wind," the Star-bearer (Morgon of Hed) and Raederle of An, united at last, continue their search for their true identities. At trilogy's end, all riddles are answered and the Star-bearer comes into his heritage, though his friends and loved ones already realized who he was.