The Sword of the King

"The Sword of the King" by Ronald MacDonald is a historical fiction told through the eyes of Philippa Drayton, as she looks back on her life and the significant events that taught her about love, responsibility, and courage during a time of family drama and political conflict. The heart of the story is her connection with Master Edward Royston, which changes over time amid the setting of the English Civil War and what followed. At the story’s start, Philippa Drayton remembers a childhood incident that shows her close relationship with Master Edward Royston from when they were little. When Philippa was five, Ned saved her from a difficult situation with her nurse, starting a friendship that slowly became love as the years passed. Their early interactions show the purity and appeal of youth but also suggest the brewing political problems of the time. Philippa’s family history and relationships are discovered as the story begins, setting the scene for the complex events that will occur because of their intertwined lives amidst strong royalist beliefs and the effects of battle.