Magdalene la Bâtarde obeys William of Ypres, her great patron, like a vassal obeys his overlord-even though William would giggle if he knew how she thought. However, when Ruler Stephen summons his barons to an excellent council in Oxford, William can smell the stink of treason-and he provides opponents who might pass on that stink over him. He needs a safe place to talk to friends and cajole foes, so he summons Magdalene.

When Magdalene is called, she knows there must be problems making in Oxford. Certainly, one about Bone of Contention of William’s very own guys, Niall Arvagh of Murcot, has been accused of murder. Ordinarily, no one would believe Niall with the capacity of violence, even upon so gross a creature as Aimery St. Cyr. But St. Cyr claimed to be betrothed towards the pretty heiress whom Niall wanted for himself. Another rumor statements that Niall committed the act over the purchase of his grasp, William of Ypres, for politics reasons.

While the debate rages in Oxford, Magdalene teams up with her old friend, Sir Itchen of Bellamy, to get rid of the mess that threatens to make a political scandal. Though Bell is certainly ready to investigate the situation, can Magdalene trust him totally this time? Offers Bell become so jealous of William that his feeling of justice could possibly be overwhelmed?

Fortunately for Magdalene, she still has friends in town. Her previous coworkers, the whores and barmaids of Oxford, may be able to provide her the required information-and help her select the strands of romance apart from the rope of treason, reweaving them into a net to entangle a murderer.