Britain is in a state of uneasy peace and so England's greatest warrior, Uhtred of Bebbanburg, finally has the chance to take back Bebbanburg, which his traitorous uncle stole from him and which his scheming cousin still occupies. But fate is inexorable and the enemies Uhtred has made and the oaths he has sworn combine to distract him from his dream of recapturing Bebbanburg. He will need all the skills he has learned in a lifetime of war to make his dream come true.