In the aftermath of the murderous savagery between two rival Scottish lairds, Bruce MacLennan commands the building of a castle with a dungeon below. During its construction, he travels to the faraway and then almost unknown land of China, where he joins a troop of mercenary soldiers -- all to distract him from his memories.
In a poor teahouse, he encounters the child Peony, and, on impulse, buys her to be his attendant. Despite his harshness toward her, she serves him faithfully. After many adventures, they return to Scotland, where MacLennan's castle -- and his planned revenge -- await him.
Within these dark walls, Peony finds a new life and unexpected happiness. For MacLennan the time has come to fill the dungeon with its destined prisoner. But he does not dream of the terrible twist of fate -- one that will not lock away his old enemy -- but the most precious person in his life.
Celebrated author Lynne Reid Banks takes us back to the fourteenth century in this compelling epic of one lord's bitter struggle, his quest for vengeance, and the tragic awakening of his frozen heart. Ages 12+
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Lynne Reid Banks is a best-selling author for children and adults. Her classic children's novel The Indian In The Cupboard has sold nearly six million copies worldwide. She was born in London in 1929 and worked as an actress, writer and TV news reporter. Lynne has written thirty books: her first, The L-Shaped Room, was published in 1960. She now lives in Dorset, where she continues to write. Lynne says that writing for children comes much more easily than writing for adults