In the Kingdom of Gilead of Mid-World, Roland Deschain, son of Stephen studies and trains in preparation of earning his guns and taking his place as a Gunslinger. But at the age of 14, he learns that his mother has been having an affair with his father's advisor, Marten. Spurred to anger by Marten's treatment of his mother, Roland calls out his instructor Cort for his trial of manhood. If he bests Cort, he will have earned his guns, and the right to bring justice to Marten. But to lose would mean to leave Gilead as an exile, never to fulfill the destiny before him.