The Mer-Lion — Lee Arthur

A ROYAL CHALLENGE!

Aisha, wily daughter of the sadistic King of Tunis, contrived a contest for her hand - as a ploy to protect herself and her country from surrendering to the iron grip of the red-bearded corsair - the Barbarossa.

DeWynter, Earl of Seaforth, Scottish envoy to the English court, joyously entangled in the satin web of Anne Boleyn's charms, did not even know the golden Aisha existed.

He did not dream he would be flung by the jealous Henry VIII into the political ferment of Northwest Africa, that he would find himself and his loyal companions fighting to the death in a barbaric test of men's courage, endurance and guile so devious and cruel only a woman could have devised it.