Jakkin, a 15-year-old bond boy, works with many others in Sarkkhan's worm farm/nursery on the desert planet Austar IV. Jakkin plans to steal a baby dragon from the farm to raise, hoping to train the dragon to fight and earn him enough money to buy himself out of bond, as well as the dragon's freedom.

Eventually, with the help of Akki, a girl at the nursery, he succeeds and names his dragon Heart's Blood. After a year of training and growing, Akki arranges a way for Jakkin and his beautiful red dragon to engage in their first battle.