About

One day, after dressing up like a page and stealing food from Lord Orthallen's table, he hides in the laundry room. There he finds a fellow and more experienced thief, and begs him to train him in the art. The boy gives in, and Skif finds himself living permantly with him, other boys and Bazie: their teacher.

Eventually Skif becomes a master at the trade, and is glad for good food and clothes. One night, after a successful theft, Skif comes home to find his house in flames and his comrades dead. In need of money and a home, Skif steals a beautiful white horse, only to find out she is a companion and he is her chosen! Skif figures that being a herald is better than nothing, and travels with his new companion Cymry to the Herald's Collegium. There things go from good to great, and Skif gets friends, books, a comfortable bed and good education. Only one thing is missing from his life: revenge for the lives of his friends and mentor Bazie. In the end Skif helps Herald Albriech take the criminal down, and earns his name as a Valdemar hero.