Yngvild grew up on the small island of Straven, with her foster brother Noren, and a small group of adults that crew a fishing boat and look after a small flock of sheep. It's a quiet backwater in the Western Isles, and apart from the odd visit by raiders, pretty safe. Until the King's Ship Seagull comes visiting, keeping an eye on the mysterious visitor from afar that turned up unannounced. Yngvild and Noren go to the capital, Kronstadt, with Old Bjorn, the man she thought was her father. On the way Helga Trollslayer, Yngvild's natural mother, passes the legendary sword known as Jafnadr to her. Yngvild, Noren, and others, are heroes descended from the gods. On arrival at Krondstadt they're dropped into the murky world of heroes, and their troubles begin. Yngvild is nicknamed 'the Fierce'. At the age of 14 she scared off some raiders by bouncing a practice arrow off the helmet of their leader, twice. Now a young woman with voices in her head, which she thinks are from the legendary sword she's just been given, or maybe the silver talisman she wears round her neck. Yngvild and Noren set out to find out who killed her father, and seek justice…