The thirteenth-century is just begun & King John has fallen out with the Pope leaving babies to lie unbaptized in their cradles & corpses in unconsecrated ground. Across a fear-ravaged England the people are dying in sin. In the village of Gastmere this has shocking consequences for servant girl Elena. Unwittingly drawn into a macabre scheme to absolve dying Lord Gerard of his crimes death & betrayal haunt her dreams like a curse. & when Elena is threatened with hanging for a murder she did not commit it is certain that unnatural conspiracy lies behind these dark deeds. But where can she turn? For in every face lies wickedness & in every shadow lurks treachery...