The year is 1140. Civil war has been ongoing between King Stephen and Empress Maud for a year, and William Hamleigh has been commanding men in the war on King Stephen’s side. He has become more sadistic in the intervening years. While at a brothel, he receives word that his father Percy has died. Returning to court, William discovers that Richard, the son of Earl Bartholemew, has made a credible case to King Stephen for a right to the earldom. Richard and Aliena are now wealthy from their wool trade, and with Aliena’s money, Richard has become a squire. Meanwhile, the earldom has gone to seed under the Hamleighs’ watch. William performs acts of murder and rape within his earldom in order to spread fear and extract back rent and fines. On this rampage, he discovers that Kingsbridge is thriving at the expense of the impoverished Shiring, and that both Richard and Aliena are not so easy to intimidate. 

Seeking absolution for his sins from Bishop Walerian, the two hatch a plan to retake the Shiring quarry by force. In a dawn raid he is met with unexpected force by Otto and his stonecutters. William is victorious, but he loses a few of his best men at arms in the fight.