A young Scot arrives in the dark streets of 17th century Paris, his family name in ruins, his future uncertain. This is Arthur Blane, and the story of his rise from destitute gentleman to officer in the French elite is the stuff of pure adventure fiction. When he stumbles into the labyrinthine capital, he has nothing but his sword, his courage, and a fierce pride that refuses to yield. An encounter with two aggressive gallants, where his bravery protects a mysterious masked woman, launches him into the glittering, dangerous world of the French court. Through the patronage of Clara d'Ische, the Countess d'Amboise, Arthur finds his path to the renowned Scottish Guard, a prestigious regiment serving the French crown. But Paris in this era is treacherous. Courtly favor shifts like sand, political machinations simmer beneath every masked ball, and a young man of honor must learn to navigate treacherous waters, duels, assassination attempts, and a love that may cost him everything he is trying to rebuild.
