After returning from Constantinople, Ambrose and his friends ride north with his brother the king to face the all-conquering Great Army of the Vikings. The king of Mercia sues for peace and battle is averted. Fearing a massive surprise attack, Ambrose and his friends ride north as spies and join the Great Army. Recognized, the friends must flee and battle their way back to safety. Ambrose is wounded and only the love of a maiden and friendship of a mysterious trader saves his life. Betrothed, Ambrose rides south to Wessex.

After seven years of hard-won peace, a Viking army lands in Wessex and attacks Rochester. Alfred the Great has traitors within the Empire, and two powerful Viking Kings to his north. Nevertheless, he manages to drive out the invaders. He hits back at their sanctuary, and enrages Guthrum of East Anglia. The West Saxons cross the Thames River, decimate the Viking settlements on the northern shore, and seize London. Guthrum gathers his forces and marches south, while Alfred and his army prepare for the battle which will decide the fate of all Britain.

It is the greatest Viking invasion of England in Alfred's lifetime. Will the last independent Saxon country fall before the massive onslaught? It will take three years of hard fighting to force the Vikings to leave. Alfred and his son are the last chance for Saxon England. A bastard prince and a Byzantine scholar will make the difference.

King Alfred the Great is dead, and young Prince Edward must persuade the Witan that he should be the next king. His own royal cousin, Ethelwold, rebels, and is soon leading an unholy alliance of influential noblemen and Vikings. Wearing the Viking crown of Northumbria, he invades Wessex. Can Edward keep his throne? Will Wessex finally fall to the Viking onslaught? Prince Ambrose, Edward's uncle, Polonius the Byzantine, a brilliant scholar, and Phillip, master warrior, will once again be called upon to help save Wessex. Closely based on the Anglo-Saxon Chronicles, this story chronicles a...