In Game Of Kings Lymond was forced to play a part to prove his innocence, in Queen's Play, he is persuaded to play a part to protect the life of the young Queen Mary, thus, in the second volume, we are privy to the secret as he cloaks himself in the identity of the Irish Ullaimh, Thady Boy Ballagh, but even so the mystery and ambiguity remains pervasive, as the thrilling, hilarious, horrifying set-pieces are arranged and executed with flamboyant skill around the nobility of France and the deadly political intrigue of the 17th century.