King Edward requests that an alliance be forged between the Grey and Mullens families by the marriage of Eleanor to Mullens' village-plundering son Henry, and Eleanor seemingly has no choice but to run away from home to avoid going though with the arrangement. Meanwhile, the visiting trade representative from France turns out to be a woman.

Sir Thomas' son, Armus, returns from 8 years at the Crusades and the Greys journey to the Duke of Arondale's castle to pay their taxes, but there they are attacked by a group of bandits and held hostage along with Mullens and his daughter.