AD 1066. Cerdic is a prisoner of war. Captured after the Battle of Hastings, his fate is in the hands of the victorious Norman count Cynric, who is in no mood to feed and look after worthless Englishmen as the army moves inland. His survival depends on his ability to convince them of his value. Cerdic’s sole bargaining chip is his lordship of Wulfbury, a small stronghold in Northumberia, following the deaths of his father, its earl and elder brother in the invasions. If he can entice them with the lure of this fiefdom, he may yet survive. But the fortress is held by a ferocious band of Vikings, who will not give it up without a fight. Will Cerdic be able to convince the Norman knights to let him live, or will his fate be the same as so many other Englishmen lying on the battlefield of Senlac Ridge?