Lily and her mother are devout followers of Frere Lanther, a man of God who shuns the corrupt ways of the Catholic Church. Persecuted by the other villagers on the Baron's estate where they live, Lily and her mother decide to take passage on a boat to the New World. They hope also to find Lily's father, who - eight months ago - was taken against his will to be part of a colony that the Baron intends to found in the new land. The journey is arduous: food is scarce, people fall ill. But worst of all, Lily's mother catches the fancy of the depraved Baron himself, whom they discover is on the ship with them. Evil seems to surround them, and even Lily's friendship with the Baron's son, Ethan, cannot comfort her. But more treachery awaits when at last they arrive in the New World - and discover a hostile land that has apparently destroyed every member of the party that preceded them. Separated from their group, Lily and Ethan are adopted by an Indian tribe - and Lily is forced to confront some shocking truths about her past - and her future.