There may be official peace between Scotland and England, but lawlessness still reigns in the Debatable Lands along the border. As Lord of Capelburgh, George Crandall finds himself reluctantly drawn into executing judgement on renegade robbers, mystic fraudsters, lords of misrule and noble murderers. When opportunity offers, however, he can't resist planting the idea for an epic poem in the mind of a talented author, the young Geoffrey Shoemaker. Meanwhile Ranulf, his son and heir, is growing apace and Lady Margaret seeks a wife for him, ignoring the little black girl who is his constant companion. Her choice settles on the daughter of Earl Percy's seneschal, but will the girl prove suitable? Alas, George's successes bring him to the attention of authority and George and Ranulf are summoned to take part in King Edward's wars. They reluctantly set off on a winter trip to London, where all is chaos and delay.