Wubi's world is much like Earth. except that nothing can be heated above about 1000° C. Most metals cannot be worked. Bronze is king, iron is worthless. Wubi's world has only a single massive continent. and an ocean that covers most of the planet. Otherwise. Wubi's world is like ours, with people going about their lives.

Wubi is a farmer's daughter. She's only ten, but she has a very fine garden. In the drought that's gripping the region this summer, her produce is very important to her family. The garden lies along the great Highway that runs from the capital far to the east to the sea far to the west, and one day a traveler notices Wubi's fine green garden in the midst of Sun-burned brown.The traveler will change Wubi's life; she will change her family's existence; and the ripples of change will spread across all the Duchy and beyond.Oh. also: Wubi will grow up, fall in love, and.