Kicked out of his home in the Domes, Edor finds himself squatting on abandoned land, taking it on as his own and trying to eke out a meagre living from the infertile soil. When his closest neighbor, Varas, offers to trade his hard-earned crop for him in the town several weeks’ walk away, Edor takes the man up on it. Months later, when Varas still has not returned, Edor has given his hopes of getting seed for a winter crop and a beast of burden. In fact, he’s just decided that Varas has cheated him when the man returns, two slaves meant to be Edor’s in tow. Edor frees the slaves as soon as Varas leaves, but to his surprise, the men stay with him and change his life and his land in ways Edor could never have dreamed

Edor and his new friends, former slaves Tywyll and Lys, are still making the most of the land. Every day the two norvigi bring changes, improving Edor's way of life. As is their way, Tywyll is growing stronger with the winter equinox, while Lys is growing weaker. When Lys goes into his sleep, Edor finally gives into his attraction to his two friends with Tywyll, knowing Lys would give them his blessing if he were awake. When Lys finally wakes, the three men find their home in danger, and they must band together even closer to save their newfound happiness. Can they solve the mystery that their attackers leave behind, and stay safe at the same time?

Edor, Lys and Tywyll continue to work hard to make their land and home better as winter turns to spring. They're focused on keeping the spring floods their home, building channels so the water reaches their fields instead. They also continue to learn more about Cynar, the Novigi they found during the winter, who comes in very useful for keeping their farm secret from passerby. Varas has not forgotten Edor and his two helpers though and he shows up, making demands in return for not giving away the secret of their existence to the Salters. Edor and Cynar refuse to give Varas what he wants, fighting against the Salters who come to take their land, which helps the two grow closer every day. Can they keep their little farm, and family, afloat?

When Lys goes missing, Meco must leave his land and his other lovers behind to search for him. His travels lead him first to an old enemy who has betrayed Meco and the Novigi, and then to a toan where he discovers that the Salters and the Domers have joined forces. Captured by the very people he suspects of having taken Lys, Meco is questioned and tortured in the Salter's effort to discover the Novigi secrets. Will Meco be able to not only rescue Lys, but protect his land and the people he loves? Or is he doomed at the hands of the Salters?