When Max discovers that his father and brother have unexpectedly died, he inherits the county of Gilbraith-on-Heather and the title of earl in the Felgenland Union. Max travels home to find that his inheritance is in a dangerous spot. The great house is falling apart; the family's finances are in shambles, and Max's scheming cousin and aunt have trampled the rights and honors of his vassals!
However, all is not lost. Max is aided by his sister, Meg, and the family's chief retainer, the huntsman Cormac, in his quest to restore sanity. When Max meets a mysterious shepherdess, his life becomes more complicated. Adding to the complications are a Felgenland Union auditor, spies, and terrorists. Max vows to put things right, no matter the obstacles. To do so, he must navigate the complicated and tenuous nature of
love and honor in the Felgenland!