Her father beats his wife and threatens to rape Hekat on the insistence that she should birth him more sons to plough the fields in the dry desert wasteland known as the savage north.

Once sold, she begins her journey to the south, through the wealthier, greener Mijak, to reach the traders' home city of Et-Raklion.

Along the way, Abajai teaches her how to speak courteous Mijaki, how to dress, and how to sing and dance, and keeps her away from the rest of the slaves.

Hekat realizes too late that Abajai still sees her as just a slave who would fetch a good price from the warlord Raklion.

She escapes and joins Et-Raklion Warlord's warhost with the help of the nameless god.