Books published by publisher Quercus Publishing Plc

Up in the hills of Languedoc, Raoul de Bertrand tends to a small blue flame in a filigree box, a flame lit at the moment of Christ's death when the veil of the Temple was rent in two. Raoul has been hiding here since, as a boy, he inadvertently shot Richard the Lionheart with his crossbow, a crime for which his father was killed.It was for this flame that Richard the Lionheart came to Chalus Chabrol, for the possessor of the flame appears to have the authority of God Himself in all his actions. Sir Bertrand, facing certain death, entrusted the flame to Raoul, telling him this is the flame of salvation and is waiting to be claimed by a good man who will use it to heal rather than destroy. It is essential, therefore, that the flame is given to the right person. His father has been waiting for years for that person, without success, and it is his dying wish that Raoul succeeds. Raoul promises.By 1242, war has all but broken out between the Catholics who control northern France and the Languedoc region, where many religions co-exist in peace. This battle finally draws Raoul out of hiding, as he becomes aware, the fight is for his blue flameMaking friends with a young couple caught on either side of the conflict, Rauol reveals his secret to Raimon, a Cathar, and Yolanda, a Catholic. As the conflict grows bloodier by the day, and Raimon is accused of murdering numerous Catholics, including Yolanda's uncle, will their love survive And more importantly, will they

In a city that runs on a dwindling supply of magic, a young boy is drawn into a life of wizardry and adventure. Conn should have dropped dead the day he picked Nevery's pocket and touched the wizard's locus magicalicus, a stone used to focus magic and work spells. But for some reason he did not. Nevery finds that interesting, and he takes Conn as his apprentice on the provision that the boy find a locus stone of his own. But Conn has little time to search for his stone between wizard lessons and helping Nevery discover who—or what—is stealing the city of Wellmet's magic.

Will Raimon's and Yolanda's love survive the ravages of a siege, her enforced betrothal to Raimon's enemy, and the growing divisions within their beloved Occitan Raimon has escaped the pyre and carried the Blue Flame, the true spirit of the Occitan, to the mountains above Castelneuf. There he dreams of Yolanda and gathers more people to his cause. But his resolve begins to fail as he is besieged by the Catholic Aimery and the Cathar White Wolf. In Paris, Yolanda, believing Raimon is dead, resists marriage to Sir Hugh, who is building a war train to topple Raimon and bring the flame and the Occitan under the rule of the French King . . . In a blazing finale, as Castelneuf burns, all sides are forced to reconsider what they are willing to sacrifice for the Occitan, for power and ultimately for love.