"One day, we will all die because of you."

England, 1070. In the fenlands of East Anglia, the Saxon resistance against the Norman king smolders. The rebels repeatedly raid the neighbouring estates, and the inhabitants of manors yet untouched by the outlaws are bracing themselves for an attack.

Young Loïc knows that every man has to stand their ground against the Saxons, but his efforts during fighting practice attract the scorn and spite of the other squires. He must prove himself in battle if he wants to teach the others a lesson and survive a hostile onslaught on the manor. When he comes across a unique sword one day, he believes he has finally found a solution to his problem. But suddenly he is faced with a completely different challenge - and an enemy who has long been following his every move.

How it all began: the prequel to the Northumbria Trilogy