Imagine a place of five kingdoms, where war is constant, a place heroes have abandoned and villains abound. Imagine kingdoms where the Kings delight in their constant rivalry, and their people suffer because there is no time to heal or build; a place where plague and famine are rabid.

Then imagine a boy who, except for a drawing to the flames, is not much different from other boys. A bit of a mischief-maker, for sure. A pain in the village peacekeeper's head–of course. A boy of sixteen summers with a spirit made for trouble.

Mostly an ordinary boy.

But then, the superstitious believe a fascination with fire to be a sure indicator of a person's true being. Those drawn to the fire are invariably servants of Partholón, the Creator's scourge, they say. Most do not believe, thinking it nonsense, but are they right?

When the mischief maker, Summi, sets fire to a rickety old cowshed and is immediately caught by the village peacekeeper, Kathvar, everything changes. Escaping during the night, he flees to Upthóg, a recluse hiding in the deep forest. Leaving him in her cot to sleep, Upthóg goes to Caer Scál to discover the truth, only to find the gate guard had been sleeping in the cowshed, and Summi is wanted for murder. Her news forces Summi to run for his life, with Upthóg, strangely, running with him.