Book: The Death of Kings by Bernard Cornwell
Krishna
This book continues the Saxon Stories – This comes after the previous books, all of which we have reviewed before : The Last Kingdom, The Pale Horseman , The Lords of The North. The Sword Song.and The Burning Land
The story continues, and this is another gem in the series of short but nail biting thrillers from Bernard.
Edward was made king of Mercia “for practice” by Alfred. There are a group of wild men who try to attach Uhtred and he learns that someone paid them to kill him.
He goes with a few men to meet Beortsig who is on the fence between Danes and Saxons. The most powerful Danes now are Cnut and Sigurd. Looks like Beorstig was lying and may also have sent the men who tried to kill him. Uhtred and Finan figure it out by the horses’ hooves that suggested that the underling of Sigurd had taken the horses in the direction opposite to the one pointed out by Beorstig’s son.
Uhtred understands that though Alfred is sending him to bribe Eohric, there is a trap to kill him by Sigurd and perhaps even Eohric.
He realizes, by pretending to be a marauding Dane, that Eohric and Sigurd are colluding to have him killed. He decides to spring a reverse trap. Burns the ships and meets Sigurd himself for a parley. He defeats Sigurd’s army in spite of the “prophesy” that Uhtred will be killed that day. There is a very good description of how he uses the banner of Alfred to devastating effect in the battle on the bridge.
Then he sets out to lay a trap for Silgurd himself. He goes to taunt Haestan whom he made powerless in the previous book, to taunt him to come out and meet him. Then he gives his helmet and shield to Finan asking him to pose as Uhtred and goes clandestinely to where he expects Sigurd to come riding to “crush” him.
However, foolishly he wanders into Cnut territory and meets a sorcerer (old lady) who tricks him and learns of his plans and also traps him to be killed. He escapes by slaughtering the priests but changes his plans because he is almost certain that he has blabbed his plans to the lady in one of his drugged stupors in the cave.
He changes plans and deftly burns the fleet of Sigurd deep inside Sigurd’s territory, when Sigurd had gone to capture Uhtred in Mercia. But he is arrested and interrogated by priests with no one to protect him at all. Bernard Cornwell writes the fiery resentful arguments with the priests in a fabulous way throughout the series and the books are worth reading for that alone, if not for the twists and tension that runs all the way through.
He is saved from the judgement of the priests by his old friend Steapa who takes him to a dying Alfred. Alfred generously makes him rich prior to dying and in gratitude, Uhtred swears allegiance to Edward. (He is shocked to see his cowardly son a Christian and singing in the choir).
Alfred dies and Ethelwold takes Ethelflaed, who is the love of Uhtred though married to the Earl, hostage, claiming the throne as a legitimate heir. He needs Ethelflaed’s support and hence the kidnapping. Edward, Uhtred go to rescue her, with Steapa and many soldiers.
He sends Steapa back to Edward and goes alone to rescue Ethelflaed by himself. He loses Ethelwold but gets the rest back.
He wonders why Danes are so silent and sets up an Angel Room where gullible people can see angels in semi darkness. When they are massacred then he knows a war is near and prepares himself. As even no one believes him.
When the trader Offa who seems to be full of gratitude gives him a big tip that Sigurd plans to attack Wessex and he sees suspicious lack of urgency in their moves, he figures that he has been duped. He takes revenge on the trader’s house (he being dead) and chases the Danes pell mell with his, Steapa’s and Aethelflad’s men.
He is continually puzzled by the Dane’s behaviour and finally figures out that the man who had pledged fealty to Edward is a traitor working with the Danes. He goes to war and worries that he is too late to save the kingdom. He goes and dupes the Centish force into believing that the Danes are attacking and manages to kill not just the King but also Aethelwold who is a pretender to Edward’s throne, as well as King Eofric who had also turned traitor with the Danes.
Excellent story, well told. Don’t miss the author’s note at the end where he explains how real history ties in with this story with a few made up events and characters. Fascinating. Bernard at the top of his trade.
9/10
– – Krishna (Apr 2018)