In Iceland, Ubbe and Torvi finally meet a mysterious wanderer. Bjorn is forced to re-think who his enemies are when Erik returns from a scouting mission with worrying information. Bjorn will need allies, but he may not be able to convince his old foe, King Harald, to join forces in the face of the new threat. Ivar is reunited with someone close to him.
Bjorn is forced to act quickly in the aftermath of the election for the king of all Norway. The Bandits attack Lagertha’s village again confident of an easy victory. However, when the defense boils down to single combat with Lagertha, victory seems less likely. In Kattegat, haunted and paranoid, Hvitserk continues to unravel.
As Norway’s Kings and Jarls arrive at Harald’s territory for the election of the King of all Norway, Olaf is certain of the result, however, it may not go as smoothly as he believes. Lagertha’s village is anxious in anticipation of another attack and she is relieved when Gunnhild arrives with re-enforcements. In Kiev, Igor and Ivar engage in subterfuge and Ivar is stunned when he encounters a ghost from his past.
It’s six months after the battle of Kattegat and Bjorn is now King. As he struggles with the responsibilities of kingship, he finds he can’t rely on his mother. Ivar falls into the hands of the Kievan Rus, and in their ruthless and unpredictable ruler, Prince Oleg, he may finally have met his match.