Summer, 1626.

Europe is ablaze as the supporters of the exiled Elector Palatine, who was also briefly King of Bohemia, challenge Emperor Ferdinand. The emperor’s new general, Wallenstein, has achieved a crushing victory over the feared mercenary commander Mansfeld at Dessau, but Danish King Christian IV is on the march in Lower Saxony.

Amid this turmoil, Captain Matthew Rider must somehow manage both his part of Wallenstein’s war effort and his troublesome young lieutenant, Filippo Schiavono. Schiavono’s knack for finding trouble deepens when one of his three close companions is murdered. Jorrit Musykens, Schiavono’s loyal servant, comes close to being accused, but evidence points to another of the friends, who confirms his guilt by fleeing.

Seeking vengeance, Schiavono and Jorrit follow the trail of the murderer. From covert missions deep inside enemy territory, to the chaos of battle, each step toward justice brings fresh danger.

Meanwhile, Lady Catherine de Bouqulement narrowly survives an attack in The Hague. A second attempt on her life persuades her mistress, the Electress Palatine who still styles herself Queen of Bohemia, to send Kate away on a secret diplomatic mission crucial to their cause.

In a world where loyalties shift and every decision is a gamble, fate has its own trump card to play. The fortunes of war bring about an unexpected reunion that will forever alter Schiavono’s destiny.