Born of the sea, yet raised far from it. Daire Tiernan has been hidden from his cursed destiny and those who would use him. When strangers come to their village, claiming Daire is the long lost Champion of the Sea-cursed to unleash the angered god of Ruin upon the world-his friends Paedra and Kael are determined to make sure Daire gets to the ocean in one piece. But with his own people using him as bait, and snake raiders out to capture him, and the forest maiden seeking his death, Daire must decide his own destiny. Live to destroy nations or sacrifice himself?