Beobrand finds himself caught between the perilous intrigues of Frankish royalty and the Church in his latest thrilling Bernicia Chronicles adventure. AD 652. Beobrand has been ordered to lead a group of pilgrims to the holy city of Rome. Chief among the pilgrims is Wilfrid, a novice of the Church with some surprisingly important connections. Taking only Cynan and some of his best men, Beobrand hopes to make the journey through Frankia quickly and return to Northumbria without delay, though the road is long and there are deadly perils on the way. But where Beobrand treads, menace is never far behind, and the lands of the Merovingian kings are rife with intrigue. The new queen of Frankia is unpopular and her ambitious schemes, though benevolent, have made her powerful enemies. Soon Wilfrid, and Beobrand, are caught up in sinister plots against the royal house.

After interrupting a brutal ambush in a forest, Beobrand and his trusted gesithas find their lives on the line. Dark forces will stop at nothing to seize control of the Frankish throne, and Beobrand is thrown into a deadly race for survival through foreign lands where he cannot be sure who is friend and who is foe. The only certainty is that if he is to save his men, thwart the plots, and unmask his enemies, blood will flow. PRAISE FOR MATTHEW HARFFY: 'Nothing less than superb. The tale is fast paced and violence lurks on every page' Historical Novel Society 'A breathtaking novel that sweeps the reader into a dark and dangerous world' Paul Fraser Collard 'Beobrand is the warrior to follow' David Gilman 'Historical fiction doesn't get much better than this' Angus Donald 'A brilliant characterization of a difficult hero in a dangerous time. Excellent!' Christian Cameron 'Battles, treachery, revenge and a healthy dose of Dark Age adventure' Simon Turney 'Matthew Harffy tells a great story' Joanna Hickson 'Harffy's writing just gets better and better. He is really proving himself the rightful heir to Gemmell's crown' Jemahl Evans 'Harffy has a real winner on his hands. A genuinely superb novel' Steven McKay 'Harffy has created a gritty, authentic world, home to a hero who shows us the complexity of what it means to be human - the darkness and the delight' Stephanie Churchill.