In a kingdom of magic, it is sometimes difficult to tell man from beast. Nal Sinbel, killer of bears—well, actually, just one bear—lives a life of undisturbed obscurity. A prodigious hunter, he wanders the Wastes eagerly trapping and fishing. But he is far from free: his banished family lives at the mercy of magical King Marl, who keeps court on the other side of the Wall.
A chance encounter with a strong-willed princess and her band of youths drags Nal out of anonymity and into danger. Can he confront his parents' past and stand against his cruel uncle? Or will he find this new existence even more merciless than the Wastes?