M. J. Porter
Published: 2014-02-01
Total Pages: 524
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England: The Second Viking Age Leofwine Ealdorman - The Earls of Mercia Series Book 1 Five ealdormen bestride King Aethelred II's Witan offering wise counsel whilst serving their King as his representative in the old Saxon Kingdoms, united now for nearly fifty years. Leofwine, newly created ealdorman of the Hwicce is chosen to represent his King on a vitally important diplomatic mission, but when tragedy befalls him he must fight for his survival and hold his own amongst men who call him friend but see him as a threat. Leofwine: wily diplomat or pandered invalid? As the Viking raiders grow ever more determined to take what is not theirs, forming alliances with the Norman Dukes and the Irish Kings, can Leofwine navigate the twisted paths of loyalty and self-interest to enable his King to fight for glory and self-respect? Ealdormen - The Earls of Mercia Book 2 Leofwine, Ealdorman of the Hwicce, has proved himself in battle and won the support of his King, Aethelred II, but the specter of Swein of Denmark, the man who partially blinded him five years before, has suddenly become a harrowing reality. As the Viking raids intensify, conflict at the King's Witan and amongst his Councillors grows and Leofwine finds himself still treading a difficult path between loyalty and the twisted self-interests of the men the King surrounds himself with. Can Leofwine weather more storms and grow his own power base, or will his King, once and for all, lose patience with his broken Ealdorman?