Roland Deschain relates the tale of "The Wind Through The Keyhole" to a young boy, Bill Streeter, who he is guarding in the town of Debaria. A 'skin changer' has been wreaking havoc there, and Roland has been sent by his father to Debaria to deal with it. In this story-within-the-story, a young boy, Tim Ross from the village of Tree, journeys through the Ironwood Forest. He is attempting to obtain a cure from Maerlyn the wizard, for his mother Nell, who has been struck blind in a terrible beating from her husband - Tim's stepfather, Bern Kells.