Born the younger son of a legendary knight, Joquin has been raised with the understanding that he, too, will be trained in the ways of the sword. Unfortunately, his true passions lie elsewhere, especially in composing songs and ballads on his lute whenever he can sneak away from being trained for battle. He knows refusing to become a knight will enrage his father, Baron Garwyn, as will admitting that the love songs he composes are all addressed to other, though imaginary, men. When Garwyn decides to hire a brutal and dangerous knight to break Joquin's spirit, Joquin knows he must flee. His naiveté promptly lands him in captivity at the palace of another fearsome knight, Baron Sendrin. Yet, to his surprise, Sendrin offers him a new and welcome life as his personal minstrel. As his feelings for Sendrin grow, Joquin worries that the truth about his origins will surface. If it does, he knows he may be forced to return to Baron Garwyn's keep. Yet lying will only risk Sendrin's love and possibly both their lives as well.