
Orrec the son of the Brantor of Caspromant & Gry daughter of the Brantors of Barre & Rodd have grown up together running half-wild across the Uplands The people there are like their land harsh & fierce & prideful; ever at war with each other Only the gifts keep the fragile peace The Barre gift is calling animals The women of Cordemant have the power of blinding or making deaf or taking away speech The Rodds can send a spellknife into a man's heart The Callems can move heavy things
- even buildings even hills The Caspro gift is the worst & best of all it is the gift of undoing an insect an animal a place Orrec & Gry are the heirs to Caspro & Barre Gry's gift runs true but she refuses to call animals for the hunt Orrec too is a problem for his gift of undoing is wild he cannot control it
- & that is the most dangerous gift of all GIFTS is Ursula Le Guin at her best an exciting moving story beautifully told