In this first book of the BLOODLINES series, the five godmothers are introduced. The thirteenth century is the stage. Love and lust, bloodletting, and adventure are the players. A Scottish noblewoman takes off to rescue her brother in Saracen-country, a Nubian Princess is sold to the Khan's Mongols, A Chinese and Indian noble woman suffer the same fate. A Samojed shaman-girl follows suit. The "bad" godmother's line starts in the Roman era in Germania.