Will and his brother Ned are on the long march from the Fens to North Wales, commandeered into the army of ditch-diggers heading west towards Flint, to prepare the foundations of Edward I's new castle.
The lads are nervous, and rightly so, for not only is Ned a mute, whose abilities as a horse-whisperer and herbalist make him suspicious in the eyes of their English overseers, but they have been close to the enemy. Ned had been secretly taking lessons in music from Ieuan ap y Gof, an exiled bard, not long before the 'recruiters' came. The boys find themselves besieged on all sides - unsure of their own allegiances and in danger of being thought traitors.
Finding Ieuan and saving Ned tests Will to his limits. Finally, when all appears lost, he learns that love is sometimes harder to understand than death itself.

Margaret Redfern grew up in Yorkshire. After gaining a degree in English Literature and Linguistics Margaret qualified as a teacher, working first in Turkey then England before moving to Wales in 2000 where she gained an MA in Creative Writing. Margaret now teaches at Pembrokeshire College, Haverfordwest. She has been published by many magazines including Planet and Pembrokeshire Life, as well as short story anthologies. This novel was short-listed for Flint Library's annual Aur Pur / Pure Gold award.