It's the eve of Seraphina Forthred's wedding in Seletun, Britain, 760 AD, and Einar the Just has been ordered to kill her by Cecil, her betrothed. But when Einar isn't paid, he makes other plans--holding her hostage for the silver denied him.
This starts a journey that goes up the coast of old England to the coast of Norway.
Unfortunately, Seraphina finds Einar, the Viking warrior, as willful as she is, and she's thrown into a world that is savage in comparison to hers. She makes a promise after a thwarted escape attempt that will haunt her later. Taken across the North Sea to Dusavik, Norway, Einar's home, she meets Jarl Roald and Gunnar, Einar's power-hungry stepbrother.
The first trouble arises when Gunnar claims she belongs to him, instead of Einar. Hólmganga, an old battle custom, is used to decide the claim.
Though Einar wins, there are more hard feelings between the brothers. Once at home in Norway, Seraphina proves to be quite the horseman in a race. Although her winning guarantees her passage home, an impending war with the Danes and bad news from Seraphina's home causes Einar to delay his promise.
She tries to run away after she feels Einar is not going to keep up his end of the bargain, only to learn that breaking a promise to a Viking could cost her life. Surviving the ordeal only toughens her resolve to be independent.
Suddenly drawn into a war between the Danes and Jarl Roald, Seraphina discovers her ability to be a warrior, and her heart must decide who she really loves.
