num_pages: 261
description: In a shadowy game where defeat can mean death a deal with the enemy can change things forever. In 1842 Captain Gabriel O'Riordan of the 8th King's Royal Irish Hussars is sent on a mission to Bukhara. His taskto try to free two of his compatriots from the clutches of a mentally unstable Emir. On his way he encounters Valentin Yakolev an officer in the Russian Army who is also on a missionto persuade the Emir that an alliance with Russia would be in his best interests. Gabriel disguised as a holy man is not happy to be the object of Yakolev's intense scrutiny. After all he's working for the opposing team in the Great Game being played between their two nations. When Gabriel realises that his mission is little more than a forlorn hope a game he has no chance of winning he's desperate enough to turn to Valentin to help and offer him anything in return. What he doesn't expect is to have his plans to return to Calcutta scuppered by events. Instead he and Valentin flee north fighting off bandits their desire for each other and the hardship of desert travel. Their travails bring them closer together until a secret from Valentin's past tears them apart. Can they set the past behind them and move on together?Reader Advisory: This book contains some violence including beheadings.WORD COUNT 51406
language: English
title: Tournament of Shadows
publisher: Totally Bound