Gregor grew up on a farm on the Dnieper River and knew only the seasons of the crops. Every year he waited anxiously for his Uncle Lars to make anchor on their shores and tell the tales of his adventures in "trading." Fighting and trading sounded much more exciting than his young sedentary life. The river called to him to learn of new places and peoples. Perhaps this year he might join his uncle's crew and experience more than the planting and harvest of his mundane life. After all, his Viking heritage could not be denied, he was destined to know valor before Valhalla. Years of fascination and study have resulted in this historical tale of adventure for first time author, William H. Pattison. He offers us this glimpse into the life of a young man, leaving his family and farm, engaging in a rite of passage suited to the setting in an ancient world.