Barbara J. Pond

Falcons of Ormond: a Novel of Medieval England Barbara J. Pond

1403 -- English soldiers struggle to stamp out a growing Welsh rebellion led by Owain Glendower. Vermead, the castle of Lady Katherine Latimer, stands undefended on the dangerous Welsh border. To prevent it from falling into rebel hands, King Henry IV orders Katherine (Kit) , a twelve-year-old orphan, to marry Sir Mark de Haviland, Baron Ormond, who commands a large levy of loyal troops. Kit is brave, passionate about falconry, but fears marriage to a stranger her late father's age. To stop the ceremony, she seeks help from a mystical wisewoman, Gwyneth Morgan, but even Gwyneth's Druid powers cannot prevent the King's decree. Mark and Kit are separated by the ordeals of war. They remain virtual strangers until they meet again at court. Kit is a lady-in-waiting to the Queen and has grown into a lovely young woman. Sir Mark has been gravely wounded and faces a duel to the death with his mortal enemy, while Kit is fighting for her life against the schemes of Mark's jealous mistress and the dark forces of witchcraft which surround her. This novel is filled with adventure and mystery built on a solid framework of research. The Falcons of Ormond is a memorable read for lovers of historical fiction. Highly recommended.