England, autumn 1013: To deliver the Danish prisoner Hakon to court, the young Englishman Ælfric of Helmsby travels to London. The city lies in ruins, for the weak King Ethelred is unable to protect his kingdom against the constant Viking raids. But unlike England and Denmark, Ælfric and Hakon are not enemies—during the perilous journey they have become friends. Soon they belong to the inner circle around the power-hungry Queen Emma. But English resistance is threatening to crumble, and when the Danish king dies, an even more dangerous enemy soon stands at the gates...