October, 1300. War cog "The Waxman" is bound for Orwell. Its master, Adam Blackstock, is taking an ancient manuscript, "The Cloister Map", to be deciphered by his brother. But Blackstock is slaughtered when ships flying the colours of the Hanseatic League overrun the cog. Three years later, Wilhelm Von Paulents, a representative of the League, arrives in Canterbury, in possession of "The Cloister Map". Sir Hugh Corbett is sent by the king to negotiate for ownership. But less than 24 hours after their arrival, Von Paulents and his travelling companions have been barbarously assassinated. It falls to Corbett to investigate and as he once again enters the world of shadows, he soon finds his own life under threat...