Thurstan negotiates Cynewyn’s release, William confronts Odo, and Thurstan asks Cynewyn to be his wife. On the ride back to Drayton, the lovers quarrel, then are unexpectedly attacked.

Aelfgyva and Vital wed and, Bardolfe begs Cynewyn to abandon her risky plan. At the feast and big reveal of the Bayeux Tenture, all hell breaks loose when Cynewyn’s revenge is discovered. Odo denies any misconduct, and William threatens maiming as punishment for slander against his brother.

Thurstan and Cynewyn become better acquainted. Turold buys the freedom of Count Eustace’s grandson at Dover Castle, Aelfgyva’s baby is stolen just before her wedding with Vital, and Cynewyn plots revenge on Odo.

Aelfgyva, a sweet Saxon seamstress, suffers from sexual assault by King William’s brother Bishop Odo in the cell next to Cynewyn . Aelfgyva and Captain Vital connect while Turold, dwarf jongleur, entertainer and spy for Queen Edith, arrives and lightens the mood. Bishop Odo has evil intentions.

At the Abbey, Cynewyn struggles to create the images for the Bayeux Tenture while Thurstan wanders across Europe, Russia and Turkey looking for hunting birds. At the Emperor’s palace in Constantinople, Thurstan finally faces his past and is tempted to join the Varangian Guard.

Cynewyn loses her baby in a tragic accident caused by Thurstan. At the same time, Isabelle is safely delivered of her son, who she rejects and refuses to care for. Before she runs away to her Abbey in Normandy, Isabelle arranges for Cynewyn to leave Drayton for the court of Queen Edith.