The story is set in 13th century England and concerns the fictional
outlaw Norman of Torn, who purportedly harried the country during the
power struggle between King Henry III and Simon de Montfort. Norman is
the supposed son of the Frenchman de Vac, once the king's fencing
master, who has a grudge against his former employer and raises the boy
to be a simple, brutal killing machine with a hatred of all things
English. His intentions are partially subverted by a priest who
befriends Norman and teaches him his letters and chivalry towards women.
Norman leads the largest band of thieves in all of England at age 19.
None can catch or best him. In his hatred for the king he even becomes
involved in the civil war, which turns the tide in favour of de
Montfort. In another guise, that of Roger de Conde, he becomes involved
with de Montfort's daughter Bertrade, defending her against her and her
father's enemies. She notes in him a curious resemblance to the king's
son and heir Prince Edward. Finally brought to bay in a confrontation
with both King Henry and de Montfort, Norman is brought down by the
treachery of de Vac, who appears to kill him, though at the cost of his
own life. As de Vac dies, he reveals that Norman is in fact Richard,
long-lost son of King Henry and Queen Eleanor and brother to Prince
Edward. The fencing master had kidnapped the prince as a child to serve
as the vehicle of his vengeance against the king. Luckily,
Norman/Richard turns out not to be truly dead, surviving to be
reconciled to his true father and attain the hand of Bertrade.
