Yani and her animal companion Wolf live in a stone age land. Her adopted father, Knut the old knapper, has passed to the Otherside. She and Wolf live in the cave shelter by the Northern Sea where she and knut had been so happy. Before he passed over he taught her the craft of making flint blades. She learned herb lore from Gyla in village at the base of the Mountains That Are Always White. Her friend, Deet the Trader, takes her blades to trade for the things he needs. One day when sorting her herbs a group of seamen appear and carry her off in their boats. Once in their village she discovers she is needed to break a curse and save the unborn child of one of the Seapeople's chieftans.