Unmerciful Incursion

In the winter of 1812-13, Lord Wellington's army settles into cantonments on the border between Spain and Portugal to recover from the gruelling retreat from Burgos and to plan for the next campaigning season, but winter quarters prove less than peaceful for the third brigade of the Light Division.

Colonel Paul van Daan finds himself temporarily seconded to the headquarters staff, looking at improving training and discipline ahead of the new campaign. In addition, changes within his brigade bring him into conflict with Leonard Vane, the new commander of the 115th who is loathed by the officers, the men and their women. Meanwhile, Paul's wife Anne is finding it hard to recover from the birth of her daughter and is beginning to question her decision to remain with the army.

Major Carl Swanson is enjoying new responsibilities in Paul's absence, but as his career begins to advance, he is torn between ambition and his love affair with Keren Trenlow and a clash with Major Vane leaves Carl with a difficult choice.

Away from the main army, Captain Giles Fenwick and Captain Michael O'Reilly are sent on a mission to the northern coast of Spain to locate a missing diplomat. Caught up in the bloody conflict between French troops and Spanish irregulars, Giles and Michael are pushed to the limits of their endurance as their journey culminates in the brutal storming of Castro Urdiales and its appalling aftermath.