A merchant ship weathers a terrible storm and sinks. The ship's misfortune is blamed on Covenant, one of its passengers. Years later, twelve year old Maeve is playing near a stream when the water turns red. She finds that all her town's men have been slaughtered. Seeing the carnage, a voice tells her to avenge the men's deaths. She assembles an army of children, and must find the man who will champion her cause. Her search leads her to Spawn, shackled in a cave. Maeve tells him God will trade his help for forgiveness. But when Spawn sees the army he has been asked to lead, he is incredulous.