Jan de Lichte is literally dragged towards home as an accused murderer/deserter. When he arrives in his hometown, he finds change everywhere. The poorest citizens tend to end up branded, beat and banished from town, but they have joined together in the forest and that’s where Jan discovers family and friends.

Héloïse meets a suitor. Coffijn resists Baru's push for reform of the City Watch. Jan tells the Embo family that Emiel is dead, but hides his guilt.

Tincke rescues a wounded Jan from bounty hunters but discovers the price on his friend's head. Coffijn involves partners in his road-building plan.

The thieves discover the valuable cargo they've stolen in the stagecoach raid, but the incident provokes a violent backlash not even Baru can prevent.

Baru gets valuable intelligence from his spy, Anne-Marie. Héloïse runs away with Jan, leaving her father distraught. Iron Simon makes Tincke an offer.

After learning the truth about her brother, Héloïse returns home. Iron Simon puts a price on Tincke's head. Jan engineers a bold reversal of fortune.

Baru is elevated to alderman and welcomes Anne-Marie and her sister into his new home. Tincke schemes to free Jan. Héloïse prepares to wed Nicolaï.

A miraculous return from the dead precedes the fulfillment of a curse. Nicolaï's mother discovers why Héloïse is not pregnant. Anne-Marie pays a debt.

The thieves celebrate their good fortune. Benoît Van Gelderhode vows to avenge Nicolaï. Baru succeeds Coffijn and forces Anne-Marie to make a choice.