Bold, professional, ruthless -- hero and man of action "This was his world now, this small saddle of land between the escarpement and the knoll,a tiny piece of grassland that was warm in the sun and pretty with flowers.There he would meet his enemy, and there he would win.Sharpe was going to war." Richard Sharpe is about to face his most violent enemy yet.Even though he is the veteran of many battles,Colonel Leroux is a man of such inventive cruelty, even Sharpe must watch his back.Sent away from the battle fields where he thrives, Sharpe is charged with the safeguarding of Britain's skilful and valued spy, El Mirador. Sharpe must face the minefield of arsitocratic Spanish society with its politics and intrigues.His guide is La Marquesa, a lady of a certain reputation.Beset by secrets,and with no-one to trust, how will Sharpe survive this dangerous assignment?