Nigel Tranter 
Sword Of State 

The youthful Alexander II, who ascended to the Scottish throne in 1214at the age of sixteen, was delighted to welcome to his court a young manof royal blood, heir to the ancient – and all but rival – line of the Cospatricks, Earls of Dunbar. Rather than begrudge Alexander his crown, Patrick, Master of Dunbar, was to serve his monarch well and become histrue and closest friend.And Alexander needed such a friend in those turbulent times, with theever-present threat of King John of England lurking; not to mention thewarlike Norsemen under King Hakon; the Lords of the Isles in revolt, andthe Isle of Man and Ireland also causing trouble.This steadfast royal friendship was to withstand both treachery anddanger, rivalry and heartache during a highly significant period in Scottish history.A story of drama and enduring friendship by Nigel Tranter, master of Scottish historical fiction.