During rehearsals for the first-ever performance of A Midsummer Night's Dream, Tom is called away to hear the news of his brother's death. The cause? Fear - John was found clinging to the high branches of an ancient oak, frozen in terror. Rumour has it that the Barguest, a mythical hound of terrifying proportions, is at large on the borders of Scotland. A tall story, some might think, and even Tom, who has actually seen the dog before, wonders if there are those who would benefit from such scaremongering. Tom rides north to investigate and finds fearsome characters in these harsh lands that will have no qualms in riding roughshod over his expertise in Logic and fancy Italian swordsmanship.

Genre: Mystery