India Baldwin, young widow and now a secretary in the Cheswick University History Department, must update her computer skills before her new boss arrives. Hank, boyfriend of Willie, India’s best friend since childhood, offers to help. But Hank has installed a secret program that, with just one slip on the keyboard, sends India to an 8th century battlefield.
Rescued by the handsome Theuderic of Metz, India must travel with him and his men to meet Charles, king of the Franks (Charlemagne) at Agen, where he is preparing for the ill-fated Spanish Campaign. As she falls into love with Theu and becomes fond of his troop, especially Marcion, a mischievous noble from Lombardy and Hugo, a solemn, impoverished warrior who longs for a love of his own, India wrestles with the problem of whether she should reveal what she knows will happen in Spain, information that could change history. She knows it’s ethically wrong to do so, but she fears for Theu’s life and for her new friends.
At Cologne, the commander of a Frankish garrison entrusts his daughter, Danise, and her chaperone, Sister Gertrude, to Theu’s care. It’s plain to India that Danise and Hugo have fallen in love at first sight.
During a peaceful stop at Aachen, India and Theu become lovers and Hugo and Danise grow closer. Hugo tells India he hopes to win honors and riches in Spain, so he can marry Danise. Hearing this, India again agonizes over the ethics of revealing the future to Theu.
Meanwhile, India’s friends, Willie and Hank, attempt to bring her back to her own time and they almost succeed. India knows they will try again.
In Agen at last, India meets Charles, king of the Franks, and the great scholar, Alcuin. She speaks privately to Alcuin who warns that Charles has made up his mind and will not alter his plans to invade Spain. Oddly, Alcuin seems to understand India’s time-travel problem but avoids talking about it. Desperate to save her lover, India ignores her conscience and warns Theu what will happen.
The Frankish army marches off to Spain and the women and clerics, left at Agen, can only wait and pray. Now, fear of what she’s done oppresses India. Did she make the wrong choice? Will Theu’s untimely knowledge cause him to behave differently than he otherwise would? If so, what will happen to the future?
