As Imperial Knight Johannes journeys north from Rome toward the Holy Roman Empire, he crosses the Alps through the Great Saint Bernard Pass, finding shelter with loyal lords along the ancient Roman road. A chance discovery leads him to the nearby manors of his mentor, Count Simon, and his own father, where he is warmly welcomed.
As Johannes recounts his service as the Hammer of the Emperor and the turmoil he left behind in Rome, both men assure him that he acted wisely in sending his wife back to Rome. But as he takes his leave, his father offers a solemn warning: never trust anyone at the Emperor's court. It is a place ruled by envy, jealousy, and ambition, where today's ally can become tomorrow's enemy. Johannes continues his journey knowing the greatest trials ahead may not come from the road, but from the court he is venturing to.