During a raid in Ireland that took her family, her home and all her food, a Viking intentionally let Shannon Carr live. She certainly did not see it as a kindness and the unexplained reason he let her live often haunted her. More pressing still was her need for revenge, so she set out to find the Vikings in Scotland.

In England, Brightie Tweddle prayed rumors of a giant in the north were true and believed he alone could save her from an abusive brother. The moment she made good her escape, she too headed for Scotland.