No. Not the Palace. Anywhere but the Palace. 12-year-old Alexander Buchan was once content, training as a falconer at Strathbogie Castle in Huntly.But when his Earl sends him to Edinburgh to the court of the newly arrived Mary, Queen of Scots, the boy finds himself lured into a world of intrigue, terror and treachery.Alexander knows right from wrong, but how can he hope to outwit the Earl's murderous messenger?Surely no one can defy such a powerful master whose wife is rumoured to be a witch!Soon, more than the boy's own life is at stake: his friend Lizzie is arrested and the the angry clouds of Reformation Scotland gather around the young Queen.It seems that Alexander must spy – or die.