When the young mercenary Mail enters a life-or-death tournament for a prize of twenty gold pieces, and survives. He unwittingly catches the eye of the Mad King, a young man two years his senior, who takes a keen interest in Mail’s reckless, near suicidal actions.

Which lands Mail and his childhood friend, Arlo, a spot in the Mad King’s castle along with a new name of Adonis and a place on the royal guard.

They discover the Mad King, whom he comes to learn is named Rowan of House Falkland, reigning king of Falkcester and "Attack Dog" of the Church, is just as mad as the rumors implied.