Several centuries B.C, in Mesopotamia, Tag is a dog who loves his master, Tobias. He is ready to defend him from all dangers on their journey over the mountains to collect the money that Tobias's blind father now desperately needs. But when they set out, neither boy nor dog realizes that an evil demon is tracking them. Only Azarias, their mysterious pipe-playing companion, can guide them to the place where destiny awaits them. Music runs like a strong thread throughout their quest. In far-off Media, they find the beautiful and unhappy Sara, who delights in making perfumes but who is under a curse that causes the death of any man who touches her. Will Tobias be the next victim? Can the demon be defeated? What will become of Tobias's poor, blind father and his devoted mother, left behind in Nineveh under the Assyrian occupation? And who is Azarias really? This eventful story unfolds against a rich and exotic background. Told by the lively character of Tag, the dog, it also reminds us just how significant the sense of smell can be.