Rolf, son of Hiarandi the Unlucky, is a character who exemplifies the effect of Christ’s teachings upon the Icelandic people during their heroic age. The book is set in Iceland in the days when Christianity has come to the island though the old customs still linger. Hiarandi, at the urging of his wife, does an unprecedented thing: he lights a signal fire on a dangerous point of his land, thereby challenging the accepted custom which places lucrative salvage at higher value than the saving of life.

However, the life that is saved that night causes his own death and the unjust outlawing of his son Rolf. Rolf’s response to this injustice creates a suspenseful, thought-provoking tale difficult to put down.

After Hiarandi is unjustly slain, his sixteen-year old son Rolf is made outlaw by the same murderous neighbors. Rolf flees Iceland with his faithful cousing Frodi, only to be enslaved in the Orkneys by proud Grani. However, when the marauding baresarks arrive, master and slave alike muyst fight for their lives–and Rolf is the only man who can string the Viking bow.

Vemund was ready to return; he bore no shield nor armor; he thre down his bow and shouted that this should be between whatever weapons each man chose. Then with sword in hand he began to walk to the knoll. Rolf took an arrow from his quiver and laid it on the string.

When Vemund was nearer, Rolf drew the bowl no bow had ever drawn harder, yet none had been so libely in his hand. The arrow spedl Vemund turned not aside, but whe nthe shaft struck on his breast the wood flew to splinters, and the point fell down. All the Orkneymen cried out in fear, but the baresarks shouted. Rolf took a second arrow and waited a while.

Then he shot again, and the arrow struck Vemund on the throat; it turned aside and flew sliddering away. Some of the Orkneymen withdrew to the door of the church, crying that they should be left in. But the outlaws began to come forward.

Then Rolf drew one of those arrows from the ground, and wiped the point, and made ready. . .

Iceland, 1000 A.D.