Plot
In 1377 A.D. England, a 13-year-old boy, known only as Asta's Son, lives as a peasant in the village of Stromford. The village is part of the territory of the feudal Lord Furnival, which, in Furnival's absence, is under the control of the steward, John Aycliffe. When his mother dies, Asta's Son is left alone, as he has no other known relatives. Shortly afterwards, Aycliffe falsely accuses him of theft, and declares him a Wolf's Head, which means he is not considered human anymore and anyone may kill him. Aycliffe also offers a large reward (twenty shillings) for his death.
Asta's Son turns to the village priest, Father Quinel, his only friend. Father Quinel shows him a lead cross his mother always prayed with. Father Quinel reveals that his true name is Crispin. He promises to reveal the truth to Crispin of who his father was the next night, but before he can, Aycliffe's men murder him. Aycliffe then sends a boy, Cerdic, to lead Crispin into an ambush, forcing Crispin to flee the village by himself. While fleeing from Aycliffe and his men, Crispin comes across an abandoned village, vanquished by the Black Death, where he meets Orson Hrothgar, known as Bear for his body and strength. Bear claims Crispin for himself, as according to the law that if someone runs away from his master unlawfully, the next free man who finds him may become that person's master. He learns of Crispin's lead cross and notices the writing on it. While Bear does not tell Crispin what the words say, Crispin realizes that the cross and its words are important. Bear is rough with Crispin, but during their travels together, a true bond of friendship develops between them. Bear eventually asks Crispin if he would like to become his apprentice, and Crispin happily agrees.
Posing as a father and son dancer-player duet, the two travel towards the city of Great Wexly, the capital city of Lord Furnival's lands. Bear insists that he has important business to complete there. When they arrive, they find troubles waiting for them. Lord Furnival has died and John Aycliffe has arrived. Extra guards have been posted at the gates, leaving entry for Crispin difficult. They soon come up with a plan to continue the dancer-player duet and dance through the gates without an unkind look from anyone. Bear and Crispin stay at The Green Man tavern, which is owned by the Widow Daventry, a friend of Bear. In their room, there is a false wall, which Bear tells Crispin will be his hiding place if things go badly. Bear meets with John Ball, a priest in the city. Soldiers come and raid the secret meeting place of Bear and John Ball, taking Bear, who manages to save everyone else, with them. John Aycliffe had been looking for Crispin, who is hiding. Depressed, Crispin discovers that the writing on the cross states that he is Lord Furnival's son who was born out of wedlock. Crispin tries to get the help of "The Brotherhood", an organization Bear is a member of and headed by John Ball. When they refuse to aid Crispin in trying to find Bear, Crispin takes it upon himself to break into Furnival's palace and find Bear himself.
Crispin finds a dagger in one of the hallways and keeps it under his cloak. He goes into a great room and sees a picture of Lord Furnival, who looks a lot like him. When he finds Aycliffe, Crispin pins him to the ground and puts the dagger to his neck, but instead of killing him, makes him vow under oath that he (Crispin) and Bear will be able to leave Great Wexly unharmed never to return in exchange for Crispin's cross of lead. Crispin is led to Bear, who is being kept in the palace's cellar and has been tortured. Though weakened, Bear manages to walk out of the palace on his own. Aycliffe and a band of soldiers escort them to the city gates, where he reneges on his oath and is intent on killing Crispin. A fight ensues between Aycliffe and Bear, who is given the dagger Crispin found at the palace, as the soldiers surround them with their swords drawn. After a back-and-forth battle, Bear eventually squeezes Aycliffe from behind, causing him to drop his sword and dagger. As Bear hurls Aycliffe into the line of soldiers, Aycliffe is impaled by his soldiers' swords and dies. Crispin leaves the cross of lead on Aycliffe's bleeding chest as he and Bear exit the Great Wexly gates. Outside the gate, Bear and Crispin play music and sing, and Bear frees Crispin. Crispin mentions that for the first time, he feels like himself instead of merely Asta's Son.
