In Land of Hope and Glory Geoffrey Wilson imagined a world in which an Indian empire rules Europe through the power of magic. In The Place of Dead Kings Jack Casey - an old soldier who never meant to be a hero - became England's only hope.

Now it is 1856 King John is dead and the war that Jack has dreaded since the start of the English rebellion has finally begun. Regiments of Rajthanan troops are massing to the south of free Shropshire while to the north refugees bring stories of attacks by the devil himself.

Both friends and enemies fear that unless Jack can find the elusive Holy Grail there is no hope . . .

A strange set of maps that Jack discovered in Scotland could hold the key to England's freedom. Kanvar the rebels' enigmatic Sikh ally believes the charts will unlock the secrets of the Rajthanans' magic and perhaps guide Jack to the Grail itself.

But can Jack harness the power of the Grail before the conqueror's overwhelming forces destroy the dream of a free England forever?