Swordspoint introduces readers to Richard St Vier, a swordsman-for-hire who lives in the town of Riverside. One night, Richard is hired to kill two men at a party thrown by a man called Lord Horn. Richard successfully kills the two men but also kills someone he did not initially intend to.
Then, Richard meets a man called Michael, who asks Richard if he could teach him sword skills. Not willing to expend any more energy, Richard declines Michael's request. In turn, Michael enlists the help of a man called Vincent Applethorpe, who starts to teach him sword skills. Michael and a man named Chancellor Ferris are introduced in a rather unfortunate way at a party, and Ferris asks Richard to kill an opponent in a sword duel to the death - especially because Tremontaine is secretly supporting Richard. This time, Richard obliges and begins his search for information.
To that end, Richard enlists the help of an old friend named Katherine to help him figure out the name of his target. That man's name, Richard comes to discover, is Crescent Chancellor Basil Halliday. And Ferris wants him dead so that he can become Crescent Chancellor himself.
At the same time, Lord Horn enlists the help of Richard to kill Michael. But Richard refuses to kill Michael, leaving Lord Horn even more upset. Because of his anger, Lord Horn orders that Alec, Richard's lover, be kidnapped so that he could be used as leverage. Horn's loyal servants oblige the Lord's request, and Alec is kidnapped. Richard, in turn, is forced to duel Michael.
Before the duel can begin, however, Michael's sword skills teacher Applethorpe volunteers to take Michael's place. Richard accepts the substitution and kills Applethorpe. After this, Michael escapes town and Horn releases Alec, leaving him with nothing to hold over Richard.
Richard quickly kills Lord Horn in a fit of rage and a manhunt ensues for Richard, who is found and tried. At the trial, however, Richard is found to not be guilty and is released to do whatever he pleases - in this case, to return to Alec.
