Money talks in this gripping medieval mystery thriller for fans of Andrew Taylor and S. W. Perry1343. A new opportunity beckons.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.