The son of a miner, Kindan has no expectations for any other life. He loves his lessons with the camps harper, but music isn't part of a miner's future. He also enjoys helping out with the camp's watch-wher - a creature distantly related to dragons and uniquely suited to work in dark, cold spaces - but even that important job can't promise a future above the ground.

Then disaster strikes. In one terrible instant Kindan loses his family and the camp loses its watch-wher. It will take a new friendship and a new responsibility to teach Kindan that even a seemingly impossible dream is never out of reach..and that light can be found in the deepest darkness.