Shadow of the King

Britain is at peace but Arthur, the Pendragon, is missing the clash of swords and the battlefield. Sidonius lures the Pendragon to Brittany on a fool's errand, leaving his country in the inept hands of - Ambrosius. Ambrosius craves the old, disciplined and organised ways of Rome. He cannot accept the new, young kingdom or the physical disability of his son - Cadwy. Cadwy, desperate to find love and pride from his father, seeks solace with the Queen, Gwenhwyfar, but is to meet his death from - Cerdic. Cerdic, the son of Winfred and Arthur, brought up to be vindictive and cruel, will stop at nothing to get the kingdom he believes is his; but there is another son - Medraut. Medraut, born of the Pendragon's mistress, must choose which path of fate to follow. His mother's, his own, or the Pendragon's? When Arthur is presumed dead the vultures descend, vying for the throne and he power it represents. But Gwenhwyfar refuses to accept he has gone. Her heart, her very soul, belongs to Arthur - the Pendragon, the King.

Helen Hollick is a USA Today bestselling author. She lives in northeast London on the edge of Epping Forest with her husband, adult daughter, and a variety of pets, which include several horses, a cat and a dog. She has two major interests: Roman/Saxon Britain and the Golden Age of Piracy - the early eighteenth century. Her particular pleasure is researching the facts behind the small glimpses of history and bringing the characters behind those facts to full and glorious life. She has an honours diploma in early medieval history and may one day, if ever she finds the time, go on to obtain her full degree.