The Battle of Fulford Gate rarely appears as more than a footnote in English history, but it was the beginning of the end for the Saxons. While King Harold waited in London to answer the threat of the Norman invasion his traitorous brother, Tostig Godwinson, landed in the north. Tostig brought with him the largest Viking army ever to set foot in England, led by the most famous Viking of the day; King Harald Hardrada of Norway. The War Wolf of legend.

As fate would have it, Coenred, a captain of huscarls, is in York ahead of his young lords, Eorl Edwin of Mercia and his brother Eorl Morcar of Northumbria. They plan to winter in the city. Coenred is thinking of retiring to his estate in the Isle of Holderness. The young eorls have outgrown the teacher set to guide them by their father on his deathbed. While in York Coenred meets Mildryth, a young widow cast alone into the world. She seeks his protection, as a man of honour and renown, but she brings word by rumour of the approach of Tostig, the murderer of her husband and son.

Mildryth’s fears are proven true. Tostig and Hardrada march on York. Coenred counsels Edwin and Morcar to bar the gates and man the walls of the city with their army, but the young noblemen dream of glory. At Fulford Gate, before York, they draw their lines and look to meet the Vikings in combat. Coenred cannot hang up his sword when the ancient enemy of his people threaten once more. Despite his misgivings he dons the armour of a huscarl again. Mildryth had not gone looking for love, but the noble heart she found in her protector inspires feelings in her that she had thought dead like her husband. The honour of the huscarl marks Coenred out from many another man, but it is the very thing that prompts him to cross swords with the War Wolf himself.

The War Wolf, Book One in the Sorrow Song Trilogy, will be FREE to download from Amazon for a limited time only: 21^st to 25^th October.

Book Two, For Rapture of Ravens, will be available for FREE download the following week.