The King's Knight

'Ironside writes with insight and wit... The King's Knight skilfully blends action with real historical events and personages... Medieval England is a time of both blood and humanity.' Richard ForemanREVOLT1381.England seethes with discontent over unfair and arbitrary taxation.The country is on the cusp of an uprising - a peasant's revolt. All it will take is a spark.Gregory Maudesley, second son of a minor noble and disillusioned knight for hire, returns home after nearly a decade abroad. Maudesley intends to claim his deceased father's lands but the knight is plagued by misfortune.Gregory journeys to London to secure an audience with the boy king, Richard II. But the England he travels through is very different from that of his youth. The road is treacherous and the greatest dangers of all await him in the capital.London is ablaze. Even the Tower of London has fallen to Wat Tyler's forces.But Richard, enlisting the help of Gregory, will ride out to meet the rebellion head on.TREASON1387.It's six years after the Great Revolt, when the knight, Gregory Maudesley, saved the life of the Richard II.Once again the mercenary turned nobleman is caught between two parties in a bitter dispute.Gregory has enjoyed Richard's friendship and trust since the revolt. But as an increasingly corrupt circle of advisers draws tight around the young king, he becomes plagued with doubts. Is the courageous boy who faced down an angry mob capable of being the king England needs?Other lords have graver concerns about Richard's ability to rule, especially the king's uncle, the Duke of Gloucester. As the two sides vie for power, Gregory uncovers a conspiracy which threatens the crown.Political battle lines are drawn. The knight finds himself accused of treason - and must fight for his life.In a desperate bid to save his king, Gregory turns his back on escape and risks everything on unmasking the powerful lord behind the plot, choosing trial by combat.One thing is certain, there will be blood.TYRANT1395.It has been six years since Gregory Maudesley, sword-for-hire turned baron, unmasked a plot to assassinate the king. Despite saving Richard's life, his friendship with the king has never entirely recovered from the shards of Richard's distrust and autocracy.Since the Merciless Parliament, in 1388, England has enjoyed a period of peace. But an unfavourable end to the war with France and an alliance with Charles VI threatens to set the Duke of Gloucester and many of the lords against the king once more.But Richard is no longer a boy, nor a petulant young man. With his cousin, Henry Bolingbroke, safely exiled, the king begins a campaign of revenge and tyranny. The realm stands on the brink of civil war.Torn between the duty he owes an increasingly erratic king and a deep sense of what is right, Gregory must risk everything he holds dear and face his most difficult test of loyalty yet.Henry will return and Gregory will be forced to make a fatal choice.Praise for J. A. Ironside: 'Entertaining, well-researched and compelling.' Michael Jecks'Ælfgifa...steals every scene and is a character who would fit in any George R. R. Martin novel.' Tony Riches'Intense drama, creative working of the sparse historical record, and a detailed look into what made William and Harold tick... A rousing, page turning tale awaits you...' Paul BennettJ. A. Ironside grew up in rural Dorset in a house full of books. She was exposed to history at an early age and happily never recovered - the presence of so many Roman ruins in the area inspired a lifelong interest in historical warfare.