Blasco de Castiglione is now a professional soldier, in love with Violante, a beautiful nun-to-be, and with the Donna Gabriella who has captured his heart

The themes of betrayal, friendship, intrigue, and justice start slowly but are brought more and more to the foreground as the hero’s journey of advances

The Allies believe that Italy will be a piece of cake and they could move on the Germany. Italy did surrender but the Nazis kept on fighting.