Reynard, a young apprentice, seeks release from the drudgery of working for his fisherman uncle in the English village of Southwold. His rare days off lead him to strange encounters, not just with press gangs hoping to fill English ships to fight the coming Spanish Armada, but strangers who seem to know him, one of whom casts a white shadow. The village's ships are commandeered, and after a fierce battle at sea, Reynard finds himself the sole survivor of his uncle's devastated hoy.