Sharpe’s Sword

On the French-Spanish frontier, a patrol overtakes a carriage carrying a priest and three nuns. The priest is the confessor of El Mirador and is tortured to reveal the spy’s identity. The two older nuns are killed and the youngest, Emily, escapes, setting off a chain of events that entangles Sharpe with El Mirador's secret.

Major Sharpe and his riflemen arrive and rout the French, capturing a captain while the colonel is killed. Sharpe suspects the captured man is the colonel in disguise, but his superiors refuse to believe him. The young Lass, traumatized by the massacre, attaches herself to Sharpe.

Major Mungo Munro informs Sharpe that the target is Colonel Leroux, a French Imperial Guard officer; the spy's identity remains withheld from Sharpe. He orders Sharpe and the South Essex to Vilafranca, El Mirador’s base. The mission is complicated by secrecy and distrust.

As the British approach Vilafranca, a surprise artillery barrage from a nearby fort creates chaos and Leroux breaks his parole to seek safety inside the fort. The French were ready for the assault, using the moment to slip away. Sharpe and his men realize the mission has been compromised.

In Vilafranca, Sharpe encounters his old rival Sir Henry Simmerson, now the British representative, and Father Curtis, the Irish priest who runs the hospital. Tensions rise as past resentments mingle with ongoing military demands. The stage is set for internal conflict during the siege.

The regiment attacks the fort at night, but the French are forewarned and repel the assault with brutal efficiency. Berkeley is killed early in the action, leaving Sharpe in charge. Sharpe is wounded, loses his sword, and must watch as his plans begin to unravel.

While Sharpe recovers, the Lass finds her voice and begins to regain faith. Harris works tirelessly to decode the message Leroux carried, hoping to uncover crucial intelligence. The siege hinges on information as much as courage.

Patrick Harper negotiates with Ramona for a future together, and the arrangement yields a new sword for Sharpe. The weapon restores Sharpe’s morale and signals a personal stake in the fight. The unit’s resolve strengthens as the siege continues.

Harris cracks Leroux’s code, revealing that Captain Spears is the traitor who was manipulated by Leroux. The revelation complicates loyalties and confirms that El Mirador’s identity is tied to Father Curtis. Spears’s betrayal becomes a pivotal issue as the fort braces for the final strike.

The fort is softened by artillery as the British assault approaches. Spears charges to rally his men and is killed in the process. Sharpe and the South Essex storm the fort; Leroux, who seeks surrender, agrees to a duel to the death with Sharpe and is defeated.

In the chaos after the assault, Simmerson makes a crude attempt to rape the novice, but Father Curtis intervenes. The priest confronts Simmerson, accusing him of warning the French of the first attack. A brutal confrontation ensues, highlighting the moral rot within the ranks.

Curtis, a former soldier turned priest, uses his authority to subdue Simmerson and defend the vulnerable. The confrontation underscores themes of honor, redemption, and the cost of loyalty as Sharpe’s mission concludes with the fortress secured.