The Wanderer Series

979 England Ethelwulf, Thane of Arne, witnesses the murder of King Edward at Corfe & flees into hiding. He forms an outlaw band (including his cousins, Edwine & Morkere) while his mother raises money for his escape from England . Ethelwulf is denounced as the King’s murderer & hunted by the real killers (led by Haakon Skaathi) acting for Queen Elfrida. The regime tightens its grip as the outlaws battle vs. tragedy to escape the net. With extensive factual End-Notes Part 1 of a nine part series set in the 10th century Viking world. Here the background is an organised kingdom but a coup allows Law and Religion to be twisted by those in power.

Ireland (981-984) Ethelwulf and his followers land in Ireland, then a battleground for Gaels and Vikings and so an opportunity for ambitious mercenaries. But there’s treachery, horror and magic for the exiles in this land of shifting loyalties. Ethelwulf meets the axe-man, Gunnar, and the historical Queen, Gormflath – one will follow him throughout his adventures and the other has different ideas. Part 3 of a nine part series set in the 10th century Viking world. Here the background is a war-torn Ireland, beset by rival native High Kings and ruthless Viking intruders

979 France: Ethelwulf & his followers land in Jersey, still hunted as the murderers of King Edward. They soon become involved in mystery, corruption and violence in a small community. Whether it’s a monastic election, fossil discovery or murder Ethelwulf’s interference brings enemies – not least from England. Drastic action proves essential for survival. With extensive factual End-Notes Part 2 of a nine part series set in the 10th century Viking world. Here the background is a small multi-cultural Norman community threatened by corruption and violence

The Baltic (985-6) Ethelwulf the Wanderer and his company arrive in the court of the aged Harald Bluetooth in Denmark. Along with the giant Thorgrim the Short, Ethelwulf is persuaded to help a Wendish tribe plundered by the mysterious Sons of Hel. There follows the horrors of pagan rites, the treachery of a king and then the enforced recruitment into the forces of Styrbjorn, claimant to the Swedish throne. The attempt is a disaster and Ethelwulf has to somehow slip away without the slur of ‘niddering’. With extensive factual End-Notes Part 5 of a nine part series set in the 10th century Viking world. Here the background is a pagan world of the Baltic Sea, with a divided Viking society and savage neighbours.

Iceland (984-985) Ethelwulf and his followers land in Iceland and immediately become involved in a blood-feud arising from a horse-fight. Both sides need to collect supporters for judgement before the Althing. For the newcomers that may involving challenging a witch, digging up peat or spontaneous fights. Several characters are those appearing in the Sagas dating from the Middle Ages. In the end the Wanderer & his followers go into exile – with a witch’s curse upon them. With extensive factual End-Notes Part 4 of a nine part series set in the 10th century Viking world. Here the background is a violent society with legal formalities masking violent rivalries’ This version includes a new chapter not in the printed edition (Part 1 of the 2nd volume of the printed ‘The Wanderer’).

Russia (988-990) Ethelwulf the Wanderer’s band flee to Gadarike (Russia) from Finland. However, they are soon betrayed, narrowly escape and seek revenge. This creates new enemies and they are despatched to Khazaria where conditions even worsen among a population of Christians, Jews, Moslems and pagans. With news of old enemies on their trail they escape using the river system, despite tragic events, through the Sea of Azov and head for Byzantium determined to find security there as mercenaries. With extensive factual End-Notes Part 7 of a nine part series set in the 10th century Viking world. Here the background is a pagan Russia gradually becoming Christian but threatened by pagan and Moslem enemies.

Finland (986-8) Ethelwulf the Wanderer hire out their support to Gotland merchants but rapidly the contract collapses so they retire to Finland. Here they join the Kainuu exploiting the Sami in the Arctic, realise their mistake and move on to Aldeigjuborg, under threat from native tribes. Hostility follows them and they have to pay compensation for injuries inflicted in a multiple-duel. That doesn’t end the matter so they have to escape to Russia With extensive factual End-Notes Part 6 of a nine part series set in the 10th century Viking world. Here the background is a pagan Finland where native tribes are beginning to fight off their Viking exploiters.

Gwen Cohen has aspired her whole life to reach her current position of project manager at Preston-Ward Pharmaceuticals, but when she stumbles upon a dirty little secret everything changes. As she struggles with the reality of evil and her own powerful legacy, she gets pulled farther from the world she knows and closer to the one she can’t deny. Eyes finally open, Gwen struggles to unlock the dormant magic within herself before it's too late. The lines between love and duty become exceedingly blurred and the ultimate choice to be made may not be between right and wrong but the head and the heart.

The story of Ethelwulf of Arne, the Wanderer, winds to its end as he staggers alone and in despair towards Jerusalem, convinced that with the Second Coming of Christ, predicted within months, he’ll meet his destiny. But his life is not yet finished – a marriage, a child, a scarce-remembered cousin and a long-lost companion are yet to cross his path. Add to that a bloody climax of over twenty years of adventure when Ethelwulf realises his destiny isn’t quite as expected. With extensive End-Notes Part 9 of a nine part series set in the 10th century Viking world. Here the background is at Palestine about to be engulfed in the hysteria of the Second Coming in which the Wanderer seeks to confront his destiny.

Ethelwulf arrives in Byzantium and become embroiled in the intrigues of the court of Basil II. Unwittingly they upset the schemes of the Eparchos and become reluctantly accepted as the genesis of the Varangian Guard. Whether it’s kidnap by a religious fanatic or attempted murder in the bed-chamber of an imperial princess,, danger stalks the Wanderer. Then a sudden discovery of treasure leads remorselessly to the final virtual destruction of his band. With extensive End-Notes Part 8 of a nine part series set in the 10th century Viking world. Here the background is at the Byzantine Empire in its last days of power where warfare and intrigue vie to destroy the Wanderer and his band.

“Time...such a cruel mistress of fate. What we do with ours can either enrich our lives or destroy them, and we mortals never seem to have enough. The right time, our time, was too little and over much too quickly.” When Gwen turns her back on a set of smoldering amber eyes in favor of a crystal blue pair, her plan is to sever all ties with the Wanderers. Her goodbye is short lived; however, when the investigation into Preston-Ward Pharmaceuticals reveals a powerful sylph has escaped. When Gwen is drawn back into the Wanderer brotherhood for her own protection she discovers she can no longer bury her feelings for Kade or ignore the growing gulf between her and Ben. As the unrelenting hunt for their ancient enemy heats up, Gwen’s attempt to straddle two worlds becomes tedious. She must choose, but when nephilim mysteriously begin to disappear her time may be up.

Zafir doesn’t believe the higher powers that exist give a damn about any of us, and he sure as hell doesn’t pray. The forgiveness he’s found for the sins in his past haven’t come from above but from the fatherless child he rescued. On a mission to destroy the remaining Sylph that had a hand in the death of David's mother, Z and the Wanderers stumble upon a nasty plot over a generation in the making. As the enemy brings the battle to them David develops a potent new ability that threatens his very sanity. Fighting a war with his hands tied, Z is forced to turn to the one place he never imagined to help the boy he once saved: his knees. He seeks nothing more than the strength to finish the mission he started when he brought his son home. And God help anyone who tries to stand in his way...