Highin themountains of the Lake District is a secret valley where the Vikings have their last stronghold--their Shield Ring. The Normansseek to crush this group of Northmen and to bringall of Englandunder their control. They build a castle in Carlisle and send an army north.Meanwhile, the Northmenlamb and harvest as though life werenormal, but Ari Knudson sharpens Wave-flame and theJarl prepares his War Host.Two youthsof the village--Frytha, a Saxon girl who fled to the valleywhen the Normans burned her home, and Bjorn, the foster-son of the old harper--make ready, too. As the Norman's approach the secret valley, the Northmen recruit able bodies, and Bjorn volunteers to enter the Norman camp as a spy. Frytha knows Bjorn's deepest fear: that if he is captured, he will fall to Normantorture and reveal the location of the Shield Ring."

 

This book has been graded for interest at 9-12 years.

There are 234 pages in this book. This book was published 2007 by Boyds Mills Press .

Rosemary Sutcliff has written many historical novels for children. The Lantern Bearers won the Carnegie Medal. Rosemary Sutcliff received an OBE in 1975 and in 1993, the year after her death, was awarded the CBE.