BANDIT warlord General An-Shu and his beautiful but sadistic consort, the Lady Ta Chi, are on the prowl in 12th Century Sung China and former court poet Yun Cai feels the whiplash of their wrath.

He is not a natural hero, but their evil deeds stir him into action, not only to rescue his oldest friend from their clutches, but to prove to himself that his spirit has not been broken.

York writer Murgatroyd conjures up a brilliant world of colour and elegance, of daring and danger, and a story with more then one sting in its tale.