7th Century France

Zayim, a deaf weaver, is caught smuggling slaves to freedom. As a former slave, Zayim faces execution for his crimes instead of the fine required by free-borns. On the day of his execution, the magistrate offers him his life in exchange for finding the magistrate's son who was captured in battle and sold as a slave.

But when the magistrate insists on sending a spy along the journey, Zayim begins to wonder if the magistrate's son even exists, or if the mission is a set-up intended to root out Zayim's liberationist contacts.