Fleeing the collapsing Hunnic power structure, Ildico and Ernak journey west. Narration reveals her inner turmoil, balancing grief with the need to survive. Seeking supplies at a Roman outpost, she discovers a bounty poster for her capture, issued by the Romans. A close encounter with a patrol led by her former handler, Valerius, forces her to realize she is trapped between two enemies. With no allies in the civilized world, she chooses to disappear into the harsh wilderness.