Thorfinn's life changed the day Knut killed Askeladd and the newly self-proclaimed king of England sold him into slavery to punish him for daring to lay a hand on him. The young man now lives in Denmark, on Ketil's farm. Or rather, he survives. Deprived of his reason for living, he is nothing more than a shadow of himself. His encounter with Einar, a slave recently acquired by Master Ketil, however, will force him to change his attitude. Einar is as full of life as Thorfinn is apathetic, and he is determined to regain his freedom by working hard. For the first time in his life, Thorfinn has a friend, and his entire worldview is at risk of being shaken. ...