In 1459, England stands on the brink of chaos. The most powerful nobleman in the land, Richard of York, and the weak king, Henry of Lancaster, prepare to settle their differences on the battlefield. As the rule of law breaks down all over England, old scores are being settled.

For a long time, the Elders and the Radcliffes have been, at best, uncomfortable neighbours, but when Ned Elder's father and brother are murdered and his sisters abducted by the Radcliffes, the young knight is forced to flee from his home. With only a few loyal companions, he is hounded across the land by the Radcliffes. His sister Emma is torn from the quiet solitude of her household and forced into marriage, while Eleanor, her wild and beautiful younger sister, is condemned to imprisonment in a remote nunnery. Since neither Ned, nor his sisters, are willing to concede all to the Radcliffes without a fight, an old feud is rekindled.

For the Elders, nothing will ever be the same again.Their fate now will hang not just upon Ned's skill with a sword, but on the courage of his sisters and the girl he loves. Even so, they are young, they make mistakes, and they will need help if they are to survive, for once the feud begins, no-one is safe....

Amid the carnage and misery of the Wars of the Roses, the bitter struggle for survival is played out to its shocking conclusion.