The arrival in Sherwood of seven Templars, heading back to their church in Lincoln, and their gold crested banner is too much for a thief, Siward, to ignore. He steals the banner and runs into Robin and his men as he escapes. The Templars think that they are all together and after a brief altercation the Templars leave, with Much as a hostage. Now Robin and his men have to deal with seven of the most feared fighting men known to man, to rescue Much from their grasp.

The Sheriff returns to Nottingham, passing through Sherwood. Will decides that Robin's plans to ambush him is not good enough and attempts to attack the Sheriff and his men with only Little John, Nasir and Friar Tuck at his side. It all goes badly wrong - Tuck is badly injured and Robin is furious, a fury that grows when he discovers the attitude of the local villagers they take Tuck to. Back in Nottingham the Sheriff is approached by Joshua De Talmont, a Jewish moneylender, demanding the money that the Sheriff owes him. The Sheriff is not best pleased about being challenged for money he owes and 'suggests' to Guy that a tide of anti-Jewish sentiments may strike Nottingham, as it has in London and other towns, and lead to the death of De Talmont in the riots.

A group of pious and well-respected nuns are in reality a coven of witches. They need all of the Seven Swords of Wayland for some very heavy-duty conjuring. The only sword they don't have is Robin's Albion.

Robin and his band battle to prevent Morgwyn of Ravenscar from harnessing the power of the sword of Albion.

Before his death, Loxley gave Albion to Marion. She kept it safe for a year at the home of her father, who begged her to have no more to do with the outlaws. She attempts to give it to Robert, but he still says no one could take Loxley's place. When the band tries to stop a torturer en route to Nottingham, Robert is wounded by a poisoned arrow and falls gravely ill. After returning home from going to aid Robert, Marion and Albion are taken by the Sheriff. Although Gisburne is sure Robert of Huntingdon is the new Robin Hood, no one will believe him. Robert is able to masquerade as a shallow, young nobleman and make friends with the Sheriff as part of a scheme to free Marion. After the true powers of Albion are revealed, Robert, whom everyone now calls Robin, knows he is truly Herne's son.

Robert de Rainault, high Sheriff of Nottingham, failing one time too many to end the activities of Robin Hood, is dismissed by the king and replaced by Philip Mark, "The Butcher of Lincoln". Mark captures six villagers from Wickham and sends out word that Robin Hood must turn himself in or the captives will die the next noon, and six more the day after that until Robin is captured. Nasir must face the new Sheriff's servant, Sarak, a masked assassin out of the Saracen's past.