This story takes place in medieval Portugal, where Gonçalo Mendes da Maia, a legendary knight celebrates his birthday. Despite his age, he longs for one more battle and convinces his fellow knights, to ride out to the Moorish frontier. They depart from the castle of Beja, where Gonçalo Mendes was appointed as a frontier, and ride through the countryside, encountering the remnants of the Moorish armies. The story is a reflection on the ongoing conflict between Christians and Moors, and the desire of warriors to continue fighting even in old age.
