The pale horseman

THE PALE HORSEMAN the compelling sequel to the bestselling THE LAST KI NGDOM. Uhtred, Northumbrian born, raised a Viking and now married to a Saxon, is already a formidable figure and warrior. But at twenty he i s still arrogant, pagan and headstrong, so not a comfortable ally for the thoughtful, pious Alfred. But these two, with Alfred's family and a few of Uhtred's companions, are apparently all that remains of the W essex leadership after a disastrous truce. It is the lowest time for t he Saxons. Defeated comprehensively by the Vikings who now occupy most of England, Alfred and his surviving followers retreat to the trackle ss marshlands of Somerset. There, forced to move restlessly to escape betrayal or detection, using the marsh mists for cover, they travel by small boats from one island to another, hoping that they can regroup and find some more strength and support. They seek refuge in Athelney, a tidal swamp to which Alfred's kingdom has shrunk. Uhtred finds hims elf torn between his Danish foster brother and the winning Vikings, an d his growing respect for the stubborn leadership of Alfred.He must de cide whether to rebuild the Saxons' strength from his watery base and help them to take on the Vikings once more. THE PALE HORSEMAN is a spl endid story of divided loyalties and desperate heroism, with a wonderf ul range of characters from Vikings to British kings in their Cornish fortresses, from political but passionate priests to enduring fisherme n and farmers desperately striving to survive as the battle sweeps ove r them. Uhtred and Alfred, Vikings and Saxons, are a winning combinati on for Bernard Cornwell.