Henry Treece

‘One day a golden-haired warrior came riding to a Saxon village in Mercia, and tossed a penny to a boy… The warrior was called Harold, and the boy was Beornoth: the one Earl Godwin’s heir, the other a lowly thegn’s son.’For Beornoth became a Housecarl — one of that proud band of warriors who swore oaths to guard their King to the death, and who were known as ‘The King’s hounds’. A magnificent picture of Saxon England, follows the fortunes of the finest flower of English warriors, destined to serve their King until the savage hilltop fight known to future generations as the Battle of Hastings.

Young Festus’ family have been murdered and his home destroyed by the invaders.What should he d? ifteen hundred years ago Britain was facing the darkest period in its history. The Legions had left, hastening back to protect Rome. The great civilisation the Romans had built, the roads, fortresses and towns, were crumbling, and along the coast of Britain, land-hungry wanderers, beached their long-ships and killed all who opposed them.No man could trust his neighbour; all were afraid. All that is, except Artos the Bear, a leader of great strength who like King Arthur has become one of our greatest heroes.