The Black Thistle

In 1651 a fatally wounded Scottish trooper is found by an English patrol. Before he takes his last breath he reveals the details of a major plot being hatched against Scottish leaders and English generals within Clarke Castle-the same castle where many kidnapped Scots are being held.<p> Luke Tremayne and his sergeant Andrew Ford have just arrived in Oban Scotland via the English republic's newest man-of-war the fifty-four gun Providence. As the warship remains anchored in the sea loch Luke and Andrew come ashore to receive details of their mission from their new ally David Burns a man of considerable wealth and passion for his cause. After Burns briefs Luke on the Scots' three political groups six assailants press up the stairs to Burns' chambers and deliver a pouch that contains a coded message. Luke soon discovers that he must not only rescue the prisoners at Clarke Castle but also must uncover the local leadership of this organization created by the King. <p> As Scottish leaders plot and murder their way to a solution Luke becomes embroiled in a conspiracy to murder the political elite and quickly finds out that an ally is not who he appears to be.