In 911 the forces of Wessex and Mercia are once again united against the Danes, but instability and the threat of Viking raids are still threatening. Etereldo, the king of Mercia, has died without leaving an heir and the dispute for the throne is expected to be conflictive. Uhtred has always supported Eteflelda, sister of King Edward of Wessex and widow of Etereldo. Loved and respected, Eteflelda has all the qualities of a great leader, but could Saxon warriors accept a woman ruling their destinies? Worried about this, Uhtred also continues to drag the wounds received during the last battle with Cnut Longsword. She knows she needs to find the sword with which she struck him, but lost in the blood and mud of battle, where could she be now? In this eighth installment of the epic Vikings, Normans and Saxons saga, Bernard Cornwell brings to life the heartbreaking and turbulent story of a nation torn apart by sectarian and religious violence.