The novel tells the story of two half-brothers, one black and one white, who grow up in southern Africa and become rivals for the love of a beautiful and enigmatic woman named Rachel. The novella is set against the backdrop of the Zulu wars and explores themes of race, love, betrayal, and honor. It is a story of conflicting loyalties and the choices that individuals must make when faced with difficult moral dilemmas. The two brothers, Umslopogaas and Nada, are both born to the same father, a Zulu chief, but to different mothers. Umslopogaas is the son of a Zulu princess, while Nada is the son of an Englishwoman who was taken captive by the Zulus. As they grow up, the brothers become fierce warriors and rivals for the love of Rachel, a woman with a mysterious past.