Despite Alfred's great victory at Edington, Wessex is far from secure. With the threat of an imminent Viking attack, Matthew, now a warrior, is sent to fortify and defend the ford at Leatherhead. There, hopelessly outnumbered, he faces his sternest test as he and a small band of barely trained Saxon warriors strive to hold out long enough for help to arrive - or resolve to die trying. In a time ravaged by political uncertainty, Matthew is placed in intense personal danger as he's also ordered to investigate the tyranny of the Ealdorman's stepson and dispense justice as he sees fit. ...