The Earl of Dorset has betrothed his only child, pampered 18-year-old Lady Elspeth to the French Lord Tyndale to secure favour with The Dauphin. The marriage is a political one but Ellie does not object. The trip to Canterbury is a great adventure accompanied by her father's Captain of the Guard, Griffith of Nottingham. The captain is a skilled bowman, loyal to the Earl and admired by Lady Elspeth. He is also a double agent working to restore King John to the throne. Forced to choose between Ellie and the men of his company who want to do her harm, Griffith crosses the line and becomes a traitor to them all.