Sir Francis Walsingham, England's spymaster general, has eyes and ears all over the world. His secret service protects Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth--and ensures the might of all of England. Now he has a new recruit. Fourteen-year-old Nathan Fox is an actor in the same company as young Will Shakespeare. His life in the theatre has taught him a thing or two about disguises and deception. But nothing can prepare Nathan for the shadowy world he's about to enter now.Nathan is trained in swordplay and streetfighting, codebreaking and escapes. Then he's paired with fearless spy John Pearce for his first mission: a journey to Venice to forge an alliance against the powerful King of Spain.Posing as master and servant, Nathan and Pearce move smoothly through Venetian society . . . until they cross paths with the great General Othello. Soon they become entangled in his tragic love affair with a young noblewoman, Desdemona.Nathan's new life holds more action and more drama than he ever saw on a stage. But will he ever survive to tell Will Shakespeare this tale?