Paths
of Exilegeond lagu lade longe sceolde hreran
mid hondum hrim cealde sæ
wadan wræclastas
wyrd bið ful aræd
(he must for a long time
travel the waterways, the ice-cold sea
tread the paths of exile.
Fate goes as it must)
--From The Wanderer, tenth-century Old English poem
Northumbria, Britain, 605 AD. The Roman Empire in the West has faded into memory, replaced by a colourful mosaic of competing kingdoms. The changing times bring great opportunities - and great dangers.
Eadwine is the youngest son of the king of Deira, guardian of a neglected frontier and the faithful ally of his eldest brother and hero Eadric. His ambition is to be a worthy lord to the frontier district, a good husband to his betrothed, and a reliable second-in-command to his brother. All these hopes are swept away when Deira is invaded by its powerful and predatory neighbour Bernicia. Eadwine reaches the capital just ahead of the invaders, having fought a fierce rearguard action, only to find that Eadric is already dead, shamefully murdered by a unknown assassin.
Eadwine survives the subsequent disastrous defeat, and now finds himself on the run for his life. The fearsome King of Bernicia, Aethelferth, has sworn an oath to the gods to kill Eadwine as thanks for the victory, and no king will dare to defy Aethelferth by offering Eadwine refuge. Eadwine must evade Aethelferth's relentless pursuit, identify and take vengeance on his brother's murderer, and rescue his betrothed. Along the way, he will lose his heart to another woman and discover a shattering secret that challenges all the ideals he holds dear.
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Historical note - how much of the story is history and how much is invention?
Map.
Background to the cover design.
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Irinya is Ingeld's daughter, rightful Lady of Carlundy, imprisoned by the
tyrannical cousin who usurped her throne and married her by force. When she
rescues the mysterious stranger Gyrdan from her husband's guards, she seizes
her chance to escape.
But what is Gyrdan's business in Carlundy? Can Irinya's promise to restore justice win her enough support to overthrow the tyrant? And if it does, will she have to order the death of the man she loves?
