Betrayed by the guardian who raised him, young Richard Shelton relies on his cunning to survive the Wars of the Roses. Though history records two sides fighting for control of England, The Black Arrow presents a third side: the exploited commoners joined together by their black arrow weaponry. Through adventures in castles, villages, forests, and aboard a ship, Richard outfoxes captors, bargains his way out of crises, and after many mistakes ultimately proves himself worthy of knighthood.