To save the life of the young woman, Miao Juzheng, from the Emperor, Old Lao is forced to sell her to the Portuguese, but fate would have her not as an exotic slave in Lisbon or Madrid, but as a special guest of Sir Walter Raleigh in London. Appointed a guardian and protector, the Sword Master, George Silver soon finds out that his charge is extra ordinary, especially when Miao's peculiar abilities begin to manifest. Although her albinism has limited her physical sight, her spiritual sight is what matters. Her startling visions of murdered women soon lead Miao, George and their friends from The Theatre into the dangerous world of espionage and secret plots, for this is 1587, the eve of the setting forth of the great armada to destroy the Heretic Queen, and enslave a nation.