The Sword — S.M. Stirling; David Drake

For five years Raj Whitehall has led his men across the face of the planet Bellevue. With saber and bayonet, with the help of his sworn Companions and the deadly cunning of his wife Suzette, he has conquered one barbarian nation after another.

Now the last of them, the Brigade, has bowed to the authority of the Civil Government of Holy Federation. Raj's mission to restore the Federation on Bellevue as a prelude to resurrecting interstellar civilization seems on track. Center -- the ancient battle-computer that whispers at the back of Raj's mind -- is well-satisfied.

There's only one problem -- Barholm Clerett, Raj's overlord. Barholm's paranoid suspicion of Raj has grown with every famous victory, until now Clerett has room for only one thought: Raj Whitehall must die.