In the sequel to The Warrior of the Son bitter young Evan MacKeth is found on a riverbank nearly dead with terrible wounds.

He is deeply in love with the younger sister of the Queen, the lively Aine Ceallaigh who is greatly skilled with the bow and arrows, and has even single handed slain a saber tooth tiger.

Banishment however has not defeated the High priest of Moloch. The evil Claranides has returned to Durham, and is plotting and devising his revenge.

Evan is reconciled with his brother the King, and is taken to his castle where he languishes crippled by terrible wounds inflicted in his struggle with the terrible monster called a Glamorth.

Evan sinks deeper and deeper into despair, and self pity as his strength shows no signs of returning, and his only comfort is in the sweet smile of his beloved Aine. But Evan is not the only one interested in Aine, the dark, dangerous Eowulf Fitzwarren has taken a liking to her, and waits in the shadows, watching for his chance.

But then disaster strikes. The ambitious Duke Fitzwarren and his three sons united with the evil high priest Claranides, plan an invasion of the capital city Durham, and through trickery bind Evan in the church with  King Osric planning to sacrifice them both to Moloch. Then miracles start happening. Evan cries out to the One True God as the priests of Moloch raise the knife to kill Osric, and is healed. He takes up his sword and drives them from the church.

Meanwhile the foreigner Anwend Halfdane has been searching for answers since his wife was murdered by a hideous demon called a glamorth, and is called through a dream to guard the weak gate of Durham. Eowulf and his brothers, with a small force of armed men arrive to open it, and let in their treacherous father, and his retainers, to help them take the city. But Anwend cuts the drawbridge rope, and fights them off, killing the men at arms. Eowulf escapes with Clarinades and on the way bump into Aine who tries to defend herself with arrows before Eowulf knocks her out and kidnaps her, leaving his wounded brothers behind.

During this, Evan and Osric are fighting through the remainder of the men at arms who are keeping the nobles, and their families locked in the throne room while the king's treasonous senechal guards them during the takeover. But the loyal men are more than the traitors and they fight their way to victory, only to realize that Aine has been kidnapped.