Revenge is running utmost in many minds during this summer of 1304, although little do they know that it all has started nigh forty years before, with a jilted six-and-ten years old young lady. Gervase, as the firstborn of Lord D’Aubernon, is supposed to court Alessandra, a young heiress, but is attracted to the young lady’s maidservant, Mariah. As Mariah has for a long while now captivated Alessandra’s father’s interest, the daughter tries to foil her father’s intentions by forcing his hand and getting Mariah chased out from their castle. The scene is too cruel for some of the guests participating in Alessandra’s birthday celebration and they decide to leave early. On the way out of the castle, Lord Anthony and his son Arthur find themselves taking with them one of the servants who had incurred the host’s displeasure and on their way they pick up Mariah as well. Mariah is encouraged to disguise herself as a young boy and when Gervase stops by Lord Anthony’s keep is attracted to the "boy" and convinces Mariah, now called Maris, to come with him and be his new squire. At the end of the summer the same guests are invited for a tournament and the participants are preparing very intensely, especially knowing that Alessandra’s father will not play fair. There are vicious undercurrents and several people dream of revenge, without knowing one about the other.