The Chataine’s guardian, Roman, sees his dreams fulfilled beyond his wildest hopes when the armies invading Lystra are felled by disease and Roman’s Commander, Galapos, assumes rulership of the country. Moreover, Roman is reunited with his bride, Chataine Deirdre, who is pregnant with their first child. But while Galapos is consumed with the task of rebuilding war-torn Lystra, Deirdre allows herself to be lured away from Roman’s protection. Immediately after giving birth in a cave, she is sold into slavery and taken to another province. Upon her mysterious disappearance, Roman undertakes a futile search for her, not knowing that her redemption has already been ordained, nor the terrible price that must be paid to free her.

The Annals of Lystra begin with Chataine’s Guardian, continue in Stone of Help, and conclude in Liberation of Lystra. The story continues 100 years later in The Latter Annals of Lystra, which begin with Nicole of Prie Mer.