Endeavour reprint
I bought this at once, given the author.
The King's Road by Cecelia Holland
`The King's Road' is a thrilling historical adventure, set in Medieval Sicily.
The thirteenth century, Federigo, the young, orphaned King of Sicily, is reluctantly preparing for an evening at court.
Surrounded by ambitious noblemen, the Pope, and his strict regent Diepold, Federigo grows tired of the malicious intent and whisperings of old men.
He finds solace in the company of his motley crew of bad boys, Durante and Yusuf - street-fighters unfit to play with the son of the German Emperor.
Returning to the palace of Al-Aziz with a bloodied eye, Federigo is met by his furious regent.
Cecelia Holland is widely acknowledged as one of the finest historical novelists of our time. She is the author of more than thirty novels, including `Hammer For Princes' and `Ghost on the Steppe'.
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B011LQOF34/
http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B011LQOF34/
http://www.amazon.ca/dp/B011LQOF34/