Born on the Mongolian Steppes during the reign of Kublai Khan, Oyuna's fate is sealed when, as an infant, her foot is crushed by a horse.  Her clan believes she has been cursed by bad luck, and she is confined to her family's tent to cook and sew. But Oyuna believes in the words of her shamaness grandmother, and dreams of riding a swift horse and winning a great race- thereby bringing honor and good luck to her family.

Disguised as a boy, with only her beloved old mare and heroic cat for company, Oyuna sets off in search of her seift horse.  Together, they trek across the vast Gobi desert and desolate mountains, all the way to the court of the great Khan himself.  And Oyuna finds herself on the journey of a lifetime-a journey that will change her luck forever...