The sixth installment of Bernard Cornwell's bestselling series chronicling the epic saga of the making of England, 'like Game of Thrones, but real' (The Observer, London)-the basis for The Last Kingdom, the hit BBC America television series. As the ninth century wanes, England is perched once more on the brink of chaos. King Alfred is dying; with his passing, the island of Britain seems doomed to renewed warfare. Alfred wants his son Edward to succeed him, but there are other Saxon claimants to