The Pale Horseman
OCLC 60667779 | | |
Preceded by | The Last Kingdom | |
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Followed by | The Lords of the North |
The Pale Horseman is the second
Plot summary
876 – 878: Lord Uhtred of
Alfred makes peace with the Danish king Guthrum, rather than take advantage of the victory, much to Uhtred's disgust. Uhtred goes home, but eventually becomes bored and goes off raiding into Cornwall. He comes across a settlement ruled by Peredur, who hires Uhtred and his men to fight an enemy. Only later does Uhtred realize he has been tricked; his opponent is not some half-trained gang, but rather the Dane Svein of the White Horse and his band of seasoned warriors. Uhtred and Svein ally, kill Peredur and pillage his settlement. Uhtred carries off one of Peredur's wives, the shadow queen Iseult, who is believed to have supernatural powers. A monk named Asser, who was at Peredur's court, witnesses the betrayal and escapes. Uhtred and Svein then part ways. On his way home, Uhtred captures a Danish ship laden with treasure. He returns to his estate and pious wife Mildrith, using his share of the treasure to build a great hall and pay his large debt to the Church.
The
At the edge of the marsh, Uhtred rescues a monk from Guthrum's men, only to discover that the monk is actually Alfred. After praying while Uhtred briefly consorts with childhood friends, the distraught King Alfred considers going into exile, but with Uhtred's encouragement, decides to stay and fight. For a few months, they hide in the swamp, spreading the word that Alfred is still alive; slowly men come to join them.
When Svein anchors his fleet at the mouth of the
Alfred raises those
Characters in "The Pale Horseman"
- Uhtred - the protagonist, narrator
- King Alfred of Wessex (Alfred the Great) - the King of Wessex
- Leofric - Captain of the Heahengel, one of the ships of Wessex
- Iseult - A Briton shadow queen from Cornwall
- Father Beocca - Priest and family friend
- Guthrum the Unlucky- Danish King
- Svein of the White Horse - Danish chieftain
- Haesten- Captured Dane freed by Uhtred, later joins Guthrum. Haesten is a historical character.
- Ragnar Ragnarsson - Uthred's best friend
- Odda the Younger - Son of Odda the Elder, Ealdorman of Defnascir
- Steapa Snotor (the Clever) - Odda the Younger's bodyguard
- Father Pyrlig - A Welsh priest and former warrior
- Ælswith - Alfred's wife who dislikes Uhtred
- Eanflæd - whore rescued by Uhtred in Cippanhamm
- Æthelflæd - Alfred's daughter
- Æthelwold- Alfred's nephew and friend of Uhtred
- Hild - Nun rescued at Alfred's behest in Cippanhamm
- Mildrith - Uhtred's pious West Saxon wife
- Brother Asser - Welsh monk and enemy of Uhtred
Release details
- 2005, UK, HarperCollins ISBN 0-00-714992-1, Pub date 3 October 2005, hardback
- 2005, UK, HarperCollins ISBN 0-00-721098-1, Pub date 3 October 2005, audio cassette (Kati Nicholl editor, Jamie Glover narrator)
- 2005, UK, HarperCollins ISBN 0-00-721099-X, Pub date 3 October 2005, audio CD (Kati Nicholl editor, Jamie Glover narrator)
- 2006, UK, HarperLargePrint ISBN 0-06-087892-4, Pub date ? January 2006, paperback (large print)
- 2006, UK, HarperCollins ISBN 0-00-714993-X, Pub date 22 May 2006, paperback (forthcoming edition)