When the child Bridei is sent by his parents to live with the druid Broichan, he knows only
that he has left his home and family to learn to be a warrior and scholar, strategist and
sage. He is not aware that in the divided and wartorn kingdom of Fortriu a secret council of
elders, including Broichan, has long been making plans for the future of their homeland: with
Bridei himself central to their strategy.
As the only child in Broichan's remote household, Bridei learns early to deal with
fear and loneliness. So when he awakes one freezing midwinter's night to find a baby on the
doorstep, he thanks the gods for their precious gift of a companion and takes her in - and
with her arrival Broichan's master plan gains a dangerously unpredictable new element. As
the foundling Tuala grows from fey child to beguiling young woman, and Bridei moves ever
closer to his grand destiny, Broichan anticipates a perilous complication to his long-laid
plans. As well, powerful forces both close to home and in other lands are ranged against the
secret council, enemies who will employ whatever means they can to stop the druid from
bringing his plan to fruition, even if they must endanger Bridei's life.
A powerful novel of duty, destiny and desire from the acclaimed author of the
Sevenwaters trilogy plus Wolfskin and Foxmask.