Anarchy

Harold of Hereford has just turned 18.  He wants to learn more about the world.  Fortunately, due to an inheritance, he is able to hire a sergeant-at-arms, Eadmer, two men-at-arms and a groom.  But first he must look into his own roots.

From England to France and on to Venice, the group travels.  There Harold, now known as Hal, hopes to be knighted by the Doge.  But before he can meet the Doge, his little group become marines.  Unfortunately the Doge would die before he could knight Hal. However, the new Doge knights him and assigns him and his crew the task of helping to escort a young lady, Livia, to the Holy Land and her marriage to an older man.

Enroute the ship is struck by a storm, flounders and sinks.  Several survive including Hal, his crew, Livia and one of her maids.  However, will they survive the gruelling conditions on land?  Only Hal, Livia and Eadmer would make it.  Just before their arrival in Antioch, it is learned that Livia's betrothed is already married.  Livia decides to confront him, but that only endangers her and Hal's crew.

Hal's next adventure finds him becoming a member of the Knights Templar.  Eadmer continues to serve in his role as his sergeant.  After a couple of years the two return to Europe to spread the works of the Knights Templar.  A stop in France allows Hal to purchase land which had once belonged to his family.  Moving on to England, he finds that his mother had recently died.  It isn't long before the pair are on the run.  Hal decides this time to travel to Constantinople.

Returning to England, the pair take on aliases; Robyn of Hode and William of Scaerlette.  They offer their services to Empress Matilda.  Matilda is the daughter of King Henry of England, who Hal had caused problems for earlier in part due to his heritage.  What sort of trouble is this going to cause the pair?

When Henry suddenly dies, Matilda assumes that she will become Queen of England.  However, her cousin, Stephen immediately goes to England and convinces the nobility that Henry had declared him to be heir on his deathbed.  What can Matilda do?

Author Stewart Binns continues to relate the story of the civil war that ensued in England as Matilda and Stephen tried to gain control of that country.  In time, Matilda's son, Henry would become Henry II.  Binns' story is a very good read, fascinating for fans of historical fiction.