Proud, poor, beautiful, her flaming red hair cascading onto her shoulders, Agnes de la Fere has fled her arranged marriage to a brutal husband in 16th Century France. Her instinctive skill in combat wins her the name of Dark Agnes, Sword Woman. That skill is tested on the coast of France, where she foils a plot by BritainÕs devious Cardinal Wolsey to undermine the French king. Contains "Blades for France" and the non-Agnes story "Lord of Samarcand".