Born in a time of violent upheaval, young Odion and his little sister, Tutelo, live in fear that one day Yellowtail Village will be attacked. When that day comes, and Odion and Tutelo are marched away as slaves, Odion's only hope is that his parents are coming to rescue them. They are. But War Chief Koracoo and Deputy Gonda think they are tracking an ordinary war party herding captive women and children to an enemy village. Instead, they are following...

Black Shell and Pearl Hand's continuing pursuit of Hernando de Soto's invading Spanish army is shaped by their assistance in an Apache guerilla war, a desperate race to warn the high rulers, and the vain ambition of a young princess.