Norman beauty Lady Genvieve is on her way to her cousin’s new holding Merewood Keep to take charge of his young daughter…

Her escort is attacked. Struggling to break free from her captors she is brutally beaten, suffers a blow to the throat, and knocked unconscious.

Returning to Merewood Keep, MacInness, vassal to Garrick of Merewood, sees a midnight-haired angel being brutally attacked. He rushes to rescue her, but an enemy arrow shoots his warhorse out from beneath him. Nothing will stop him from saving her; he continues on foot. She is unconscious, but he encourages her to hang on until they reach safety.