Windwalker ( novel ) Windwalker is the third and final book in the Starlight and Shadows trilogy by Elaine Cunningham . Summary . The novel opens with the Battle of Immil Dale ( 1360 DR ) , in which the Tuigan Horde has engaged the berserkers of Rashemen in a dead - magic zone . The Tuigan send forth zombies to attack the Rashemi and would have nearly succeeded had not young Fyodor charged forth against orders to win the day . Because Fyodor is unable to control his berserker rages , he is given a blunt sword in anticipation of his death , but his grandmother , the elder witch Zofia , commands him to travel west to find the Windwalker to save both himself and the land of Rashemen , whose magic is failing . Back in the present day ( 1361 DR ) , Liriel Baenre and Fyodor are enroute to Rashemen in order to return the Windwalker . They disembark from a ship in Waterdeep and travel to the Promenade of the Dark Maiden near Skullport , where Qilue Veladorn attempts to speed their way via a portal . However , Liriel inadvertently leads Lolth ' s power into the temple , despite ( or perhaps because of ) having turned away from the Spider Queen . Instead , they are forced to travel onwards alone . However , Khelben " Blackstaff " Arunsun ' s apprentice , Sharlarra Vendreth , catches wind of their plight and transports them to the High Forest . Meanwhile , Liriel is still being pursued by Shakti Hunzrin , who has allied with Dragon ' s Hoard leader Gorlist , his hired deathsinger Brindlor Zidorion , and the eccentric Thayvian Red Wizard Merdrith . Shakti reveals her favor of Lolth by bringing Quenthel Baenre back from the dead , even as she continues to court the favor of Vhaeraun . She makes a covert deal with Gromph Baenre to bring Liriel and the Windwalker back to him ; in turn , he grants her a mercenary band and a horde of zombies . In the High Forest , Thorn , a lythari " Moon Hunter " and chosen of Eilistraee finds Liriel and Fyodor and escorts them to Rashemen through a special form of travel through moonbeams ; Liriel must stay asleep for the entire trip . They finally reach Rashemen only to be confronted by a group of hathran witches . Liriel uses a magical mask taken from Fraeni , whom she had killed , and disguises herself as Sylune , the sister of Qilue who she knew had studied in Rashemen and who she had falsely assumed was a drow . Zofia Othlor , eldest of the witches , knows of her true identity but plays along with the trick , bringing the pair into Fyodor ' s home village of Dernovia . Eventually , Sharlarra catches up with Liriel and Fyodor , just before Shakti and Gorlist ' s band do the same . Liriel unites with the Rashemi witches , beserkers , and Sharlarra to defeat her foes and heal the wound that had separated the land from magic and the spirits . Liriel renounces Lolth one last time , but realizes she cannot join the Eilistraeeans either . Gorlist attacks her , but Fyodor comes to her rescue , saving her but giving his own in the process . Shakti , however , has survived the attack and decided not to attempt to kill Liriel when so many others have failed . Liriel gives her the magical mask and the Windwalker , with the implicit assumption that Shakti will return to Menzoberranzan in the guise of Liriel , while Liriel goes off to make her life somewhere on the surface .