THE GREAT AXE BRETWALDA

A legend-story of the British struggle with the Danes in the days of King Alfred has a saga-like quality as it recounts with dignity the adventures of Wilton and the Brotherhood of the Lost and how they helped Alfred oust the Northern invaders. In accordance with a vision he has had, Caedmon, a British forger, makes the great axe, Bretwalda, to be kept in readiness for the man who will come and lead them. When Wilton appears, he meets and fights Regnault, a lord of Alfred's, thus proving his strength and his loyalty to Britain despite the fact that he had spent his youth in captivity with the Danes. Ensuing battles, though well won, see Wilton and a group of other lords taken hostage by Hrothgar's forces and brought to Denmark. They are imprisoned but escape to bring what confusion they can to their enemies and to save Wilton's beloved Ethelda from becoming Hrothgar's bride. Home once more, there is one final treachery to be quelled before Alfred's victory is finally won and Wilton and Ethelda are given their own lands to govern. Good history.