In a distant time, dragons roam the mountains and forests of China and the whisper of war hangs in the air.

The dragon Danzi is not yet one thousand years old. He has no Dragonkeeper and wanders alone, horrified at how bloodthirsty and violent humans have become. As the Emperor's murderous armies gather, Danzi meets the travelling trickster Bingwen - a cunning and greedy man who can hear the dragon's thoughts and does not run from him as he should. It seems Bingwen is destined to be a Dragonkeeper, but his lies make Danzi more convinced than ever that he is better off alone.

But Bingwen has other ideas, and Danzi's destiny is decided . . .