RULES OF WAR

In the early eighteenth century‚ the British army led by JohnChurchill‚ Duke of Marlborough‚ were the leaders of awide−ranging and very successful alliance. Jack Steel‚maverick gentleman‚ superb soldier‚ was in the middle of anyfight. Ramilles 1706. One of the great victories of the Britisharmy‚ a signal battle honour for the regiments who were there. Butfor Captain Steel‚ standing at the head of his Grenadiers‚sinking into the swampy ground‚ at odds with his Allied partners andreceiving contradictory orders‚ it was hard to see the General‚Lord Marlborough′s grand stratagem. Even after victory‚ Steelfinds himself mired in further difficulties. The Allies had thought thatthey were liberating the Low Countries but some preferred their previousmasters‚ the French‚ who at least were Catholic‚ andsome wanted independence from all powers‚ while others of his fellowofficers wanted out of the war altogether. Far from the battle lines heenjoys‚ Jack Steel is sent undercover to discover and deal with thetraitors. He needs to identify the loyal locals who would help a fewBritish advance troops into the besieged city − a dangerous missionmade deadly by his identification by an old enemy of his and the brilliantmalevolence of the renegade French pirate who is in charge of Ostende.