1020 A.D. A man with a troubled past finds himself in a strange land east of Byzantium. As he tries to come to terms with his life, a nomadic clan of mercenaries adopts him - unraveling a tumultuous sequence of events. The clan is led by Seljuk princes who trace their roots to ancient Oghuz legends and empires. Once proud rulers of the steppes, circumstances have forced this clan south of the Aral Sea where they are tolerated by local landlords in exchange for mercenary service. They endure season to season along the banks of the Amu Darya River in search of grazing grounds for their flock....