The book chronicles the account of the last Icelandic longboat to reach North America and the creation of the Iroquois Nation. After his closest friend is tortured to death by the Huron, Gunnar Hoskoldsson, sole survivor of the longboat joins a doomed war party led by Ahgawah, a brilliant young Seneca leader attempting to avoid the annihilation of his people. Helped by Gunnar's knowledge of Viking warfare they attack the Huron heartland wasting their villages and people. Sharing hardships and plotting battles the two become close friends and eventually adopted brothers. When Ahgawah is wounded and close to death he has a dream foretelling the five brother tribes will unite into a great league that will end the constant wars that bleed all the Eastern tribes. Against all odds the remnants of the war party escape and Ahgawah survives. Initially, Ahgawah utilizes the brutal tactics of Gunnar's people, but in time realizes that the wasting of lands and starvation of women and children cannot become part of his people's ways. When they are old men Ahgawah finally shares the secret he has kept from Gunnar; the secret of the second dream. A dream that will doom Gunnar but will protect their people.