In AD 631 Britain, Essa and his father travel from village to village. Essa's father, Cai, is a storyteller and musician. Cai leaves Essa in a village with his foster sister Hild and doesn't return. Essa has a lot to learn about who he is, who is father is, and the politics of the time.

This book is great for anyone interested in this time period. You get to see a lot about life through Essa's eyes. The author's note at the end puts everything in context.