The Earl of Mercia's Father — M.J. Porter

Every story has a beginning.England: The Second Viking AgeLeofwine, still recovering from the murder of his father at the Battle of Maldon, must serve his king as England experiences a fresh wave of Viking raider attacks orchestrated by the very man responsible for his father's death, Olaf Tryggvason.On a diplomatic mission to Norway, Leofwine is compelled to ally himself with Olaf Tryggvason. When they're attacked by the Danish king, Swein Forkbeard, seeking retribution for Olaf's previous trickery, Leofwine is severely wounded.Surviving the attack, Leofwine returns to England to find he's been all but replaced, and the king is as weak as ever. Leofwine must fight for his position and influence amongst an unruly mob of self-interested nobles while coming to terms with his life-changing injuries and new responsibilities as a husband, father and ealdorman. To make England safe again, he must force his frightened king to combat a new wave of Viking raiders with an offensive attack on those who aid the enemy.The Earl of Mercia's Father is the first book in the epic Earls of Mercia series charting the final century of Saxon England, as seen through the eyes of Ealdorman Leofwine, the father of Earl Leofric, the Earl of Mercia, and ally of Lady Elfrida, England's first crowned queen.