Coenred finds himself in Tadcaster with the remnants of the Saxon army that fought at Fulford Gate. Ever the warrior, he starts training the men for another expected encounter with the Vikings. Here is an opportunity for his fellow huscarl, Thrydwulf, to step forward and illustrate the kind of training that a Saxon soldier would have received in 1066. It is hard, punishing work, but it might also help to save a man’s life when he next stands in a shieldwall. Also, it reveals that in Anglo-Saxon Britain social-mobility was already a fact of life. Thrydwulf is a huscarl, an elite warrior, but not so long ago he was a peasant like the men he is training. During this respite from war there is also time for the younger companions of Coenred to hone their own battle-skills, and young Alfrid meets a rather pretty young lady.

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