The year is 1348 and the Black Death is sweeping across England.

At Dowe Manor, Lady Beatrice is a victim and a witch-hunter priest, Brother Rohan, persuades a distraught Sir Edmund that Brind, the dog boy, and Aurelie, the French girl are to blame.

The children escape, together with the dogs Glaive and Gabion, and go on the run through a plague-stricken countryside, at one point facing death by drowning from a crazed mob whipped up by Brother Rohan.

Even when they think they have found sanctuary in a monastery, it has been taken over by a lawless band of armed robbers, led by the beautiful but evil Chanterell.

She has plans to use the dog boy to terrorise the local manors.

By now Brind is convinced that he is a plague bringer.

Aurelie knows this isn't true, but then she succumbs to the plague herself...