'Death follows you ... ' An old woman's prediction haunts Janna as she keeps company with a group of pilgrims on the road of Ambresberie. Along their journey, janna discovers a dead man with a letter bearing the seal of Henry, Bishop of Winchestre, now an avowed supporter of the Empress Matilda. The leader of the pilgrims swears Janna to secrecy and undertakes to deliver the letter to Oxeneford, where the empress is gathering her supporters in a new bid for the crown.