Uhtred is a cookroom slave on a Viking ship yet Aelfric is irate that Guthred didn't slaughter him and breaks the coalition, getting together with Erik and Sigefrid to take Durham with savage brutality. To assuage Aelfric Guthred offers his sister Gisela in marriage however Gisela, in adoration with Uhtred, can't and seeks total isolation. In Wessex Alfred masterminds the marriage of his little girl Aethelflaed to the youthful lord of Mercia Aethelred and sends Hild and Ragnar to protect Uhtred, which they achieve when the ship comes shorewards to winter. Uhtred is brought together with Gisela yet Alfred holds the ...