Yet he still feels bound by an oath he took to protect Æthelstan, his friend, protege and Edward's oldest son.

So when there is a Mercian revolt against Edward, he rides with Finan and about 90 veteran warriors to relieve the siege of Ceaster.

When he gets there, he realises he has been lied to; the besieged, led by Æthelstan, were in no real danger, and the enemy are soon defeated.

Æthelstan and his younger half-brother Ælfweard are the main candidates to succeed the ailing Edward.

Ingilmundr, a Norse leader driven out of Ireland, seeks to settle in Æthelstan's realm.

Uhtred eventually discovers that Sköll is planning a surprise winter attack on Eoferwic, Sigtryggr's capital.

As Uhtred races there, he spots Sköll and his men coming the other way with plundered cattle, women and children.

Uhtred calls a truce to see the man who killed his daughter, but Osferth refuses to get dragged into a Northumbrian conflict, so there is no fighting.

Eadgifu, Edward's wife, tries subtly enlisting his support against their mutual enemy, Æthelhelm, who is there.