Painter is a leo

part man, part lion - the result of one of man''s genetic experiments, a powerful, beautiful, enigmatic creature deemed a ''failure'' to be be hunted down. But Painter has two advantages in this world of small bickering nation states and political accommodation and compromise: his own strength and integrity, and the guile of Reynard, another of man''s experiments, a subtle and potent intriguer, a king-maker . . .