The Simon Merrivale Mysteries
2 total works
Restored to favour at court, King's Messenger Simon Merrivale accompanies an English delegation to Florence, the powerful centre of European finance, to negotiate a loan to offset King Edward III’s chronic debt.
A top secret plot, one to decide the fate of European control.But the delegation has another purpose: to set up an Englishman, Henry Stapledon, Bishop of Dorchester, as an anti-pope in Rome. If they can succeed, they will undermine the papacy and strike a hammer blow to French support across Europe.
But one devastating betrayal will shatter their hopes.When disaster strikes, Merrivale finds himself alone, isolated and with a dozen different factions out for his blood. With no way to go but forward, he must plunge back into the seething torrent of Florence’s cutthroat streets, and dangers greater than any he has ever faced before, if he is to survive.
As a reward for his good services in Florence, Simon Merrivale has been offered a post as herald to the Earl of Derby, King Edward III's cousin and one of his trusted lieutenants.
A dangerous mission into the heart of a potential enemy...Edward has opened negotiations with King Alfonso XI of Castile, and sends Derby and Merrivale to bargain with him. Never mind that Castile has traditionally been a French ally...
But to secure his loyalty, they will have to pay. With gold, and with blood.Reaching Spain, the embassy finds Alfonso in the midst of an epic siege, by land and sea, with the Moorish states. His response to the embassy is simple and blunt; if they want an alliance with Castile, Derby and his men will have to fight.