Part of a war that's spanned history, the goblin scout Tuarth serves the Dark One as part of a small squad, whether he wants to or not. With no real home, or family but the squad, all he can do is keep his head down and try to survive, any kind of life outside war only a distant dream. After kidnapping a human princess, the squad have both sides chasing them, and even Tuarth's dreams may soon be crushed.