Louis Clery, lately of the Emperor Napoleon's feared Imperial Guard, has put his past behind him and is living happily with the woman he loves, trying his best to forget the horrors of war and the suffering he witnessed during the retreat from Moscow and amidst the Empire's death-throes.
But the past won't leave Louis in peace, and thanks to a friend's betrayal he is soon dragged into the Monarchist Government's political machinations as they try desperately to avoid a disaster of their own making, a disaster which looks set to bury Louis along with them.
Against his will Louis is dragged away from his new-found peace, and finds himself fighting for his life as his past comes back to haunt him.