Niall of the Nine Hostages was born to the second wife of the High King Eochaid. But his mother, terrified that Eochaid's jealous first wife Mongfind would kill the baby, abandoned him in the forest. Baby Niall was rescued by a poet who rared him and, when he grew up, he went back to his father's court, to claim his rightful place. But his troubles were only just beginning ....