Thief, liar, assassin, whore. Tale-bearer, spy, extortionist, confidante, scandal-smoother. A knife in the dark, poison in a cup, a shield and a defense on the battlefield as well as in the glittering whirl of Court...This, then, is the Left Hand. The Left Hand does what must be done to cement the hold of the monarch on the realm, to protect the sovereign we swear fealty to - even at the cost of our own lives. Even at the cost of our honour. There is only one word never applied to the Left Hand, only one thing a Left Hand has never been...Traitor. Tristan d'Arcenne killed his King. Now he is faced with murder, betrayal, war, and the mistrust of his Queen. She should mistrust him, for there is nothing d'Arcenne will not do. The Bandit King approaches . . .