Following his father's death and the razing of his village by English raiders, Einar longs for a quiet existence with his kin on the newly reconstructed homesteads but the land still bears scars of war. Yet destiny intervenes: his settlement is besieged once more. Einar witnesses helplessly as the pillaging Danes scorch his fields and massacre his relatives. The attackers seize Einar and deport him to Denmark as a captive.
Einar relies on his mother's last counsel for endurance. He is bought by Ketil, a benevolent master and estate holder who assures that Einar may earn liberty through labor in the tillage. Shortly thereafter, Einar meets his new field companion—Thorfinn, a sorrowful and subdued servant. While the two toil toward emancipation, they are plagued by past transgressions and current machinations. Nevertheless, they press forward, clutching a flicker of hope, absolution, and serenity in a realm that offers only cruelty and relentlessness. Their resolve is tested by the harsh seasons and the constant threat of re‑capture.
