The Koradjies, or clever medicine men as white men call them, are important and powerful men in Australian Aboriginal culture and communities. And in 1818, Tunggaree is the greatest Koradji of his time. Tarrapaldi is Tunggaree's daughter. She was sent to find and bring back the man her father has been told in a dreaming, will help save them from annihilation by the invading English. Nathaniel is an American who while studying law in England in 1812, was convicted of treason and transported to Sydney for helping impressed American sailors escape from the British navy. In 1818 he has been given a ticket of leave and is working alone on the banks of the lower Hawkesbury river when Tarrapaldi finds him and they begin their journey to the valley of Wonggaroa. Will using Tunggaree's legendary skills of telepathy, faith healing and shape changing, be enough to secure their place as leaders in what is to become the Australian nation? Or will they be killed by the redcoats because of the gold that is in their valley?