After months as prisoners and then slaves of the Skandians, Will and Evanlyn (in reality, Princess Cassandra of Araluen in disguise) have escaped - with a little help from Erak, the senior Jarl who first captured them. The imprisonment has not been kind to Will. As a yard slave, the apprentice Ranger was made an addict of the toxic and mind-numbing warmweed and it has taken most of the winter to drive the drug from his system. Now Will, though horribly weakened, is back in his right mind and his return has come not a moment too soon. The spring thaw has finally arrived in the frozen north and Will and Evanlyn must resume their difficult journey toward Araluen and freedom.