Warriors of the Storm

Brunanburh has been attacked, and its fleet burned.  Untried has taken his men from Caester to defend the fortress.  The prisoners they capture tell them that their leader is Ragnall Ivarson who has left Ireland with the intention of taking over Britain.  Mercia is now at war!

Much to Uthred's surprise, Ragnall builds a fortress not far from Caester, rather than marching north.  Because he is outnumbered, Uthred dares not attack Ragnall, and Ragnall is unable to attack Caester because of its stone walls.  Uthred is puzzled by Ragnall's actions.  So, he scouts to the north of the Maerse and discovers a bridge made of the boats Ragnall had used to invade.  Obviously his plans were to take Northumbria first and then look south to Mercia.

Aethelflad brought 800 warriors to Caester and is baffled by why Uthred is standing pat.  Surprisingly Ragnall does approach Caester, but it is a bluff as the following day he takes his army into Northumbria.  However, Uthred quickly comes to the realisation that this is simply a ruse.  He captures the fortress that Ragnall built thereby proving his point.

Ragnall returns with Brida, a sorceress, and she presents Uthred with his son, newly castrated.  Uthred vows vengeance.  When his son, a priest, recovers, he informs Uthred that Ragnall's brother in Ireland is against Ragnall.  Ragnall had come to an agreement with an Irish tribe to leave Ireland as long as that tribe destroyed his brother.  Uthred intends to go to the aid of the brother.  However, Aethelflaed forbids it.  She wants him to harass Ragnall as he retreats.

Will Uthred listen to the Lady of Mercia's command or will he do his own thing as usual?  Where will his choice take him?

Author Bernard Cornwell once again has written a thrilling novel of ancient times, one a fan of historical fiction will not be able to put down, one they will be left wanting more of the same.