Ireland, 350 A.D. A fiery tragedy sends the wounded boy Bran on an epic journey across ancient Eire. He lands on a small island in the Western Sea and falls in with a gang of coastal raiders--primitive pirates. Proud at first to be among them, he soon comes to see their cruelty, particularly in their trade of other humans into slavery. He forges bonds with some of the captives, including a lovely, troubled girl taken from Roman Britain. Though small and defenseless, he devises a scheme to overthrow his masters and free their slaves, with the aid of a devoted wolfhound and several other canines. For readers 14 and up.