The White Raven
The
third book in the Oathsworn series finds Orm and his crew attempting to
stay away from the hoard of Attila and the vengeful spirit of Hild.
They have been engaged in a conventional occupation, as hired
men fighting for Jarl Brand in the wars to create a king of both Svears
and Geats.
Salted with plunder and promises that all this is necessary,
Orm has kept his men happy and is given land by Jarl
Brand. But the Oathsworn are no landsmen farmers, and are busily building
a new Fjord Elk when, finally, circumstances force Orm back onto the
whale road in pursuit of all the silver of the world.
Two enemies of the Oathsworn have heard of Attila's hoard and are searching
for it. Brondolf Lambisson, an old foe, and Klerkon, a new one, conspire
to take two of Orm's men prisoner and force the secret
of the hoard’s
whereabouts from them.
Orm sets sail to the rescue. On the way he releases a strange nine-year-old
boy from the clutches of Klerkon, a boy known as Crowbone who claims he is a
prince.
This Crowbone
repays Orm by killing his hated captor in full public view in the main square
of Novgorod, which results in Orm, Finn and others facing the penalty for such
an event – death
by the stake.
In order to get out of it, Orm has to persuade the ruler of Novgorod, the 12-year-old
Vladimir, that the fabled hoard of Attila is real – and that Orm knows where
to find it.