This is a story about the times when the Danish Vikings questioned the very existence of Britain, when all the English kingdoms were a hair's breadth from death. And only King Alfred, the only ruler in the history of England, called the Great, intended to defend the independence of the island. A young alderman of Northumbia one of the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms that existed at the dawn of the Middle Ages Utred of Bebbamburg is captured by the Normans and brought up in the family of Jarl Ragnar .. Utrecht likes a new life, and Ragnar perceives his captive as a member of the family. Due to an unjust accusation, Utred is forced to flee south and enlist in the service of the King of Wessex in order to save his life and take revenge on his enemies. The first novel from the series "Saxon Chronicles" .