Publisher's Synopsis
At the beginning of the 10th century, England was in turmoil. After the death of Alfred the Great, it is Edward, his son, who now reigns. Wessex survives as best it can, but it seems that peace is unsustainable: the Danes, to the north, led by the Viking Cnut Longsword, are prepared to invade the county, and they will not rest until they obtain the emerald crown. Uhtred, Alfredo's best and most important warrior, now has no favor with the new king, and must lead a group of outlaw men, including his son, to reconquer his old House, The Great Northumbrian Fortress, Bebbanburg. But the Viking warlord Cnut Longsword is gathering an army. When his warlords answer the call, loyalties will be divided and many men will die in the bloodiest battles to date between the Saxon peoples and the Danes. It will be Uhtred, lord of the outcasts, who will take the reins of the destiny of an entire nation in his hands.
