Toledo Blade

It is the autumn of 1534 and King Charles IV of Voravia is forced to raise an army to defend his nation from invasion by his more powerful neighbour, Sloronia.  Attending his majesty is his recently indentured squire, sixteen-year-old Peter Salt.

After an initial success the war turns against Voravia leading to a harrowing retreat and a desperate last stand in a snowstorm. 

But Peter’s foes are not confined to his enemies on the battlefield.  Ferdinand le Gray and other highborn young noblemen are incensed that King Charles has appointed an apothecary’s son as his squire and are determined to destroy him.  He must fight to survive and serve his king.

Fifteen-year-old Princess Katherine, King Charles’ heir, is the object of an assassination plot.  Pitted against the powerful forces of her ambitious enemies she has only her childhood friend, Elspeth, to help her.

Toledo Blade tells how the two young people together with their friends face the violence of sixteenth century Europe at the time of the Renaissance.  There are no magic swords or horses that fly, Peter and Kate have to survive by the use of their brains and courage.