Solomon Ha Levi is the chief rabbi of Burgos, in the Kingdom of Castile, but in 1391, after anti-Jewish riots raged throughout the land, he decided to convert to Christianity. He becomes a priest and takes the name Pablo de Santa María. In time, he is appointed Bishop of Burgos and joins the heady world of court politics and church hierarchy. He is not alone amongst the Jewish elite of his time to convert to Christianity, but he begins to doubt the sincerity of his conversion and regrets the loss of the life he left behind.

His wife, Yehudit, does not convert to Christianity, and she lives alone in Burgos. In her dreams, she and her husband discuss all topics related to life and love, and they also discuss the rising tide of anti-Jewish hatred that will culminate in disaster for the Jews of Spain.

Pablo's descendants, all conversos, ride this wave and seek to preserve life and limb as they try to outwit their oppressors.