Gossip seeps through the mists of sixteenth century Scotland, adding more ripples to the pool of intrigue surrounding the infant Queen Mary. Lymond is back. He is an outlaw and a traitor, the black sheep of the Crawford family and the shame of his brother, Earl Culter. Returning from the slave galleys - yes, yes, I know! - he gathers around him a band of men, but for what purpose? Does he seek reconciliation? Or revenge? Or rebellion? Or does he seek to clear his name?