There is a castle on high ground beside a lake. Around it, there is a moat. Sir Sten and his wife Kristina have their living quarters in a stone house to one side of the yard. At the opposite side, there are a few small, wooden houses. In one of them, the Bailiff and his family live. Another house is for the servants and craftsmen, altogether 15 people. There are other buildings; a stable, a barn, a cow-shed and a smithy. Sixteen farms with tax-paying tenant farmers belong to the castle as well.
Sir Sten and Kristina have four children. Ebba, the eldest daughter, is married to the squire Sir Johan. The eldest son, Jacob, is being trained to become a soldier and is for the time being staying with a rich relative who is a knight. Since Jacob´s father is a wealthy man, Jacob can be certain that he will later become a nobleman with his own arms and armour. The next son, Peter, will study to become a priest. The youngest daughter, Katarina who is 8 years old, will later marry the son of Sir Anders Lejonansikte. The marriage has already been arranged by the parents, and it will take place when Katarina is 13 years old.
After breakfast, Sir Sten and his bailiff go through the day ´s business. The smith has to repair the armour which was damaged in the last tournament. The servants will deal with all the food brought to the castle by the peasants. Herr Sten tells his bailiff to keep a close watch on the peasants so they don ´t cheat. The bailiff must see to it that they bring both the money and the meat, butter, eggs and vegetables agreed upon. The peasants must also finish building the new bridge across the river.
This day, friar Benedict from a near-by monastery, comes to the castle. He stays for a couple of days to teach Peter Latin and theology. Later, Peter will study at the Cathedral School at Linköping. He might even go to Paris to study at the university.
In the evening, the family dine together. They have fish soup, fried chicken, black-pudding, boiled cabbage and rye-bread. They have some French wine with their meal , a gift from Sir Anders. Later in the evening, Kristina lights a wax-candle, and friar Benedict tells the legend of how St. Sigfrid christianised the people of Småland.