Priest Johannes Krogh runs in the election for the next bishop of Copenhagen. His youngest son August, a priest as well, is offered the position of military chaplain.

Johannes realizes that his considerable show in his job as priest doesn’t really fit into the bishop’s plans, which doesn’t exactly please him. And it also creates friction in the relationship between Johannes and Elisabeth.

A completely changed August returns home to Copenhagen – to the great bewilderment of his closest family, who don’t understand what’s going on. It isn’t until the press get wind of what happened in the Middle East and an avalanche starts rolling that August confides in his father.

A dazed and bruised Christian wakes up in a monastery in Nepal. Everything he owns has been stolen, leaving only himself and an overwhelming sense of guilt. While he recuperates, a young Buddhist monk tells him about the teachings of Buddha.

Changed following his experiences in Nepal, Christian retreats to the family's summer cottage. August is desperate to live the life he had before being deployed, and Johannes works to earn back Elisabeth's trust.

Christian visits Amira in an attempt at atonement, only to discover that she has left Mark. They slowly bond over the book that is gradually taking shape based on Christian’s experiences in Buddhist Nepal.