The Black Squad was shattered at Dezhagor. Captain Kostoprav has disappeared somewhere; everyone believed him to be dead. The Lady survived and, serving as the Lieutenant of the Black Squad, appointed herself its Captain and chronicler. In proud solitude, driven by a thirst for revenge, she began to form the unit anew, gathering under the Black Squad’s banner everyone she could.
The narration is from the point of view of the Lady—the Captain and chronicler of the Black Squad.