Tragedy plays an important role in the novel that every character encounters. The main character, Edmund, suffers through the first tragedy of his master's counterfeiting of coinage, which lead to his master's death. "I did not take a step. Even if it cost me my head, I would defend my master and his good wife." (pg. 3) Edmund also encounters the death of his master, when his master's hands are cut from his body. Edmund must see his master, and also his friend die. He had to find a way to escape this tragic world of war and death. As a squire, Edmund faces many tragedies including watching his knight literally slaughter a portion of two thousand seven hundred prisoners, "Rannulf grew tired of watching hackwork...