AD1381. Through autumn woods, rides the squire Konrad wearing the armour of the dead knight whom he served. His goal is to to rescue his master and return his honour. Times are however changing, fealty no longer matters, the knights are becoming municipal, and the government is in upheaval. Plague and misery torment the people. Highwaymen rob with abandon. Konrad lives life on a knife's edge. His role-model is the Frankish knight Ekkelin Geyling .When Ekkelin is sacrificed as a pawn in a long running feud, and ends up living on the streets, Konrad joins him in attacking the merchants. Ekkelins capture and gruesome execution eventually brings their criminal career to an end.