Will meets a strange vagrant that tells him the truth about capping, and a place in The White Mountains for free men. Will and Henry decide to leave their village to find it.

Will and Henry meet up with the vagrant, Ozymandias, who gives them a compass and a map to help them on their way. But, first they must find a boat captain who will help the two runaways cross the channel to France.

Will and Henry eventually make the crossing to France only to be arrested on their arrival. In jail they meet a new friend who promises to help them escape, and join them on their trip to The White Mountains.

Will, Henry and their new companion, Beanpole, continue on their journey by way of an abandon Paris.

Nursing a head injury, Will is taken in by a friendly family. Henry starts to question whether Will wants to continue on their journey, after he falls in love.

Henry and Beanpole go on their own, after Will decides to marry the daughter of the people who took him in.

Henry and Beanpole continue on their trip, wondering if Will will catch up with them later. Meanwhile, Will is dealt a shocking blow by his rival for the love of Eloise.

Will decides to leave the Chateau Ricordeau behind, so he can rejoin his friends in the search for the free men in The White Mountains.

After having a narrow escape from a Tripod; Will, Henry and Beanpole stay at a vineyard to rest.

The boys stay on to help at a vineyard until after the grape harvest. When time comes to continue their journey, they find it hard to leave their new found friends.

Will, Henry and Beanpole, driven by hunger, steal food from a village festival and find themselves in trouble.

Escaping many dangers since the vineyard, the boys finally come within sight of The White Mountains.

Will, Henry and Beanpole reach The White Mountains, only to be captured by the Black Guard once again.