For The Admiral

A young man returns to his ancestral stronghold to find it deserted and the region convulsed by religious war; while searching for his father he becomes embroiled in scouting, skirmishes, and clandestine missions allied with the Huguenot leader Coligny. The episodic narrative ranges from perilous rides and close combat to betrayals, sieges, a desperate action at Jarnac, daring enterprises, and a final massacre that precipitates exile. Action-driven chapters alternate with reflective passages that examine loyalty, courage, duty, and the human cost of civil strife as the protagonist serves, endures losses, and repeatedly faces narrow escapes.