AD 633, Anglo-Saxon Britain: Beobrand is a young man with a shadowy
past. As an outsider in the kingdom of Bernicia, he is compelled to join
his brother, Octa, as a warrior in the household of King Edwin. He must
learn to fight with sword and shield to defend the war-ravaged kingdoms
of Northumbria. In a period of great upheaval for Dark Age Britain, all
he finds is death and war. Men and women strive to seize control of
their destinies in a time of despair, and the land is rife with danger
as warlords vie for supremacy and dominion. Among the blood and the
betrayals, Beobrand learns of his brother's near-certain murder.
Inexperienced but ruthless, Beobrand must form his own allegiances and
learn to fight as a warrior with sword and shield. Driven by a desire
for vengeance and a relentless pursuit of his enemies, he faces
challenges which transform him from a boy to a man who stands strong in
the clamor and gore of the shieldwall. As he closes in on his kin's
slayer, can Beobrand mete out the retribution he craves without
sacrificing his honor . . . or even his soul?