Malgwyn ap Cuneglas is counsellor to Arthur, High King of the Britons. When he accompanies his liege to the West to broker a deal between warring tribes, they come across a scene of utmost depravity and murder to sicken even the most battle-hardened warrior. Things don't get any better when they finally arrive at their destination to discover that King Dogel is fighting to keep his kingdom safe from both Saxons from abroad and younger nobles vying for power. Dogel loses that fight when shortly after Arthur and his counsellor arrive, he is murdered. His young wife, defenceless and alone, appeals to Arthur to find her husband's killer. Arthur agrees and Malgwyn is given this almost impossible task. Why is Arthur so interested in keeping this small region stable and under the High King's influence? Perhaps because Dogel's people had discovered caves that might contain huge veins of gold...