"Nakon bitke na Pločniku, u kojoj je srpska vojska nanela težak poraz Osmanlijama, krajiški vojvoda Ivan Kosančić, koji je u toj bici ranjen, povlači se na svoje imanje. Svestan da sledi tek kratkotrajno primirje i da se senka neizbežnog rata nadvila nad srpskom kneževinom, vojvoda kosanički odlučuje da dovede u red svoj posed pre nego ga knez Lazar pozove u novi rat. Jedne večeri do njega dolazi zao glas iz sela. Đurđija, smerna i lepa devojka prema kojoj je Kosančić gajio posebnu naklonost, oduzela je sebi život. To među sebre i gospodu unosi nemir koji prerasta u sujeverni strah. Naročito kada posedom krenu da kolaju priče kako se Đurđija vratila iz mrtvih. Rešen da stane na put strahu i praznoverju, iako sa još nezalečenim ranama na telu i duši, Kosančić se suprotstavlja sopstvenom narodu i čoveku koji ga predvodi - fanatičnom svešteniku ocu Milutinu. Međutim, tragajući za razlogom Đurđijinog samoubistva Kosančić shvata da se iza svega krije i dugo skrivana istina. Dukat za Lađara je svojevrsni nastavak romana Olujni bedem i predstavlja pripovedni most između te knjige i romana Učitelj mačevanja, koji je sledeći u planiranom petoknjižju." -- "After the battle on Plocnik, which the Serbian army defeated on the Ottomans in, the Krajina duke Ivan Kosančić, who was wounded in that battle, withdrew to his property. Aware that only a short-lived truce would follow and that the shadow of the inevitable war loomed over the Serbian principality, the Duke of Kosanica decided to put his estate in order before Prince Lazar invited him to a new war. One evening an evil voice comes to him from the village. Đurđija, a humble and beautiful girl who Kosančić had a special affection for, took her own life. This brings unrest among friends and gentlemen, which grows into superstitious fear. Especially when they start circulating stories about how Đurđija came back from the dead. Determined to stand in the way of fear and superstition, although with still unhealed wounds on his body and soul, Kosančić opposes his own people and the man who leads him - the fanatical priest Father Milutin. However, searching for the reason for Đurđija's suicide, Kosančić realizes that the long-hidden truth is behind everything." --