War has come again to the March of England and Wales. An army under Prince Edward is massing at Ludlow to subdue the Welsh after their invasion of the autumn of 1262, which caused so much devastation and suffering in England.
Stephen Attebrook, the deputy coroner, wants more than anything to be part of that army, despite his maimed foot, hoping for a stroke of luck that will bring him to the attention of some magnate and free him from the poverty and lack of prospects of his dead end position.
Yet Fate conspires against him. His infirmity will not be overlooked. Moreover, other matters are forced upon him – the body of a missing Ludlow castle guard is discovered at the foot of the castle walls and the precious relic of a saint intended as a gift for Prince Edward goes missing from a locked and guarded chamber.
Stephen’s superior, Sir Geoffrey Randall, is quick to volunteer his services to Edward to find the relic. The commission thrusts Stephen into the path of a bitter and powerful enemy, Earl Percival FitzAllen. And the search for the relic – and the guard’s killer – leads deep into Wales itself, where Stephen finds the battle he craves.