Love, revenge, secrets-and murder-in a medieval kingdom at war. Forced to flee once more, Janna takes shelter at Wiltune Abbey. She hopes to learn how to read so that she may gain clues to her father's identity from a letter kept secret by her mother. But even in the house of God there are mysteries to solve. Who is the stranger asking questions about her? Who stabbed the lord Hugh at St Edith's fair-and was the knife meant for Janna? Who is stealing and destroying Sister Ursel's illuminated pages depicting the Life of St Edith? And why is someone leaving lilies at the saint's shrine? The bitter civil war between King Stephen and the Empress Matilda brings the empress to the abbey, and results in a meeting that will change Janna's life.