Archie Salt lives on the Scottish Island of Dung, where life is as unpleasant as it sounds. Remote and battered by the unrelenting elements, very few leave the island and even less survive. Archie however, is destined for greater things. Archie becomes a sailor where he thrives, and eventually his knack for survival saves everyone on board when peril strikes. He rises through the ranks and when disaster strikes again, he meets an unlikely companion who changes his life forever.
From poverty and hardship to opportunity, Archie finds himself at the forefront of new discoveries, falls in love and becomes entwined with powerful Scottish clans. Despite these changes, where he came from is never far from his mind.