In the last years of the ninth century, KingAlfred of Wessex is in failing health, and his heir is an untested youth.The Danes, who have failed so many times to conquer Wessex, smellopportunity! First comes Harald Bloodhair, a savage warrior leading a Vikinghorde, who is encouraged to cruelty by his woman, Skade. But Alfred stillhas the services of Uhtred, his unwilling warlord, who leads Harald into atrap and, at Farnham in Surrey, inflicts one of the greatest defeats theVikings were ever to suffer.