February, 1212.
Sir Josse d'Acquin and Helewise are summoned to Southfire Hall, where
Josse's elderly uncle, Hugh, lies dying, surrounded by his children. But
the pair soon discovers that Hugh's ill health is not the only cause of
distress in the house: for Hugh's son and heir, Herbert, has taken an
unpleasant new wife, the widowed Lady Cyrille.
Josse and Helewise are distracted by the discovery of an injured young
man on the road outside on the evening of their arrival, but the longer
they remain in the house, the more they feel that something is very
wrong. What happened to Josse's cousin Aeleis, who no one speaks of?
Where is Lady Cyrille's small son? And why do they both feel as if the
house itself is alive - and threatened by approaching evil?