There are plots to invade England and Normandy. There are assassination attempts and the only man who can stop all of these is the Earl of Cleveland. Moving from Scotland to Normandy and back again this is a fast moving novel set in the months before the civil war in England and Normandy begins.
This is Book 7 in the series. It is about the death of King Henry 1st and the rapid descent into civil war. A fast moving novel it goes from the Scottish borders to Normandy with battles and intrigue throughout.
Excerpt
We edged our horses back up the bank to firmer ground. My three men at arms splashed through the river. They needed no orders. They rode behind us and took up position on our flank. The men who chased them were not knights. They were the light horsemen who were favoured by the French. Riding small horses they used a helmet and shield but their bodies were just protected by leather jerkins covered by a surcoat. They appeared on the other side of the river with spears in their hands and they plunged through the water. As they began to climb the bank two things happened; they saw us and their horses’ hooves slipped and slid on the muddy bank.
“Now!”
I spurred Scout. I leaned forward with my sword to stab the leading warrior in the chest. Scout barged into his small mount and it fell in the river. Their spears were at a disadvantage as they tried to control their horses and their spears wobbled and flailed uselessly. We, on the other hand, had swords and we used them well. I sliced sideways and my sword hacked through the upper arm of a horsemen who fell screaming into the water. My archers released their missiles at the other light horsemen on the other bank. I felt a spear jab into my mail and I swung blindly. I felt it bite into flesh. The Frenchman grew another mouth beneath his chin. They decided they had had enough and they fell back in disarray.
