The flowery owl pattern on the old dinner service, which Gwyn finds in aloft, obsesses Alison. Its discovery marks the start of an extraordinarychain of events that affect not only Gwyn and Alison, but also herstepbrother, Roger. For there's a power stirring in the remote valley thatdates from a sad and distant myth - a tragic Welsh legend that has begun torepeat itself. Gwyn tries to shake off his involvement by running away, buthe cannot escape, and, as the tension mounts, he is made to realise thatonly by facing up to the myth can it be resolved.