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This book, known for its exquisite historical detail, opens at the dawn of the Hundred Years' War. Edward III is the beloved ruler of England during an era of great battles, disasters, and uprisings. Walter Somers, an orphan trained in sword-fighting by his blacksmith guardian, joins the British forces and fights in the devastating early battles against the French. As young Walter fights valiantly on the fields of Brittany and Flanders, he becomes the squire of the noble Edward, the Black Prince of Wales. But, amidst the dramatic triumphs and defeats of war, Walter must also face a stronger foe: the Black Plague, as it spreads across Europe. .