Quinn de Sayerne vowed never to return home while his wicked father drew breath.
Twenty years after his departure, the knight and crusader is summoned to claim his family holding after his father's death.
But the overlord decrees that Quinn must wed Melissande, the beautiful but frosty heiress of neighboring Annossy.
Quinn resolves to win the heart of his lady wife, no matter what the cost, and thence the seal of Sayerne.
Melissande cannot believe that her liege lord has ignored her .