While travelling with a small force to meet Alfred, Uhtred captures Skade, Harald's woman. Uhtred knows that the hostages are fake and that if Harald defeats Alfred, Hæsten will attack Wessex. Though he did not, Hæsten's wife and family undergo baptism, which plainly amuses Hæsten, like everything else. Hæsten and Alfred reach an accord, and Hæsten leaves hostages and accepts missionaries. Alfred cannot attack Hæsten, because another Dane, Jarl Harald Bloodhair, has attacked at Cent (Kent). At Alfred's behest, Uhtred delivers a message to the Danish Jarl (earl) Hæsten, whose fleet threatens Wessex, that Alfred will pay a large ransom for Hæsten to leave. Uhtred is military governor of Lundene (London), sharing power with Bishop Erkenwald, whom he dislikes but respects. He wants his obligation to Alfred and Wessex to end when Alfred, now seriously ill, passes away. He has long wanted to return to his family's stronghold at Bebbanburg in Northumbria and to deal with his uncle Ælfric, who stole the family properties and titles from him. Uhtred is unwilling to make that commitment. 'Scour the enemy from England,' Alfred says, 'and make my son safe on his God-given throne.' Alfred refers to him as 'my dux bellorum, my lord of battles.' Alfred urges him to swear to serve Alfred's son and presumed heir, Edward. Uhtred of Bebbanburg is now the preeminent warlord of Wessex, Alfred's kingdom. The second major campaign of King Alfred against the invading Danes begins in earnest. This is the making of England brought magnificently to life by the master of historical fiction. So he breaks with the king and takes off for the land of his birth, determined to resist all calls for his return. Uhtred, the king's champion, leads his country's forces to war, but his victory is soured by personal tragedy and by the envy of the king's court. The king, a man of many victories, is in failing health, and his heir is an untested youth. Uhtred of Bebbanburg's mind is as sharp as his sword.The enemy is massing on the borders, a united force for once.

A killer, a schemer with a dark power over men's hearts: Skade. In so doing he meets a woman more dangerous than any warlord. Now Uthred will once again defend the Christian kingdom – in a battle which could smash the growing power of the deadly Danes. The ailing Alfred presses Uhtred to swear loyalty to his son and heir Edward, preventing the warrior lord from taking vengeance on those who stole his home at Bebbanburg. But Uhtred is dogged by betrayal and tragedy. He has gained riches, loyal men and a beloved wife. To King Alfred he is the 'lord of battles'. BBC2's major Autumn 2015 TV show THE LAST KINGDOM is based on the first two books in the series. Summary: The fifth novel in Bernard Cornwell's epic and bestselling series on the making of England and the fate of his great hero, Uhtred of Bebbanburg.

The burning land book