Beowulf: Return to the Shieldlands

After many years, Beowulf returns to Herot to say goodbye to its leader and his former guardian Hrothgar. But his arrival marks a time of civil unrest within the tribe and with a political conspiracy afoot, Beowulf's homecoming does not go as planned.

There is a killer at large, and with the other tribal Thanes on their way to the gathering at which a new leader of the Shieldlands will be elected, pressure mounts on Beowulf to catch the perpetrator. With danger often hiding in plain sight, could Rheda's enemy be closer to home than they realise?

With Slean missing, Beowulf and Rate ride out into the forest to search for him, but with the enemy of Herot's people still at large, the forest is a dangerous place. Elsewhere, Rheda comes under increasing pressure - will she find the answers she desperately needs to unearth the traitor before her people turn against her?

Judgement day is here. The fate of the Shieldlands is meted out in Herot's Great Hall as a new leader is chosen. With turmoil amongst the tribes and the threat of civil war in the air, Rheda must prove herself worthy to become ruler of all the Shieldlands.

Having barely survived the first part of their perilous journey, Beowulf, Elvina, Vishka and Breca continue towards the Mere to cement a new treaty. However, new dangers await them and as they unmask the Mere tribe's fatal secret, they fall under the formidable Thane Gorrik's suspicion.

With his intended bride now in Herot, but his heart elsewhere, the walls begin to close in on Slean. However, with his uncle's honeyed words in mind, will Slean remain loyal to his mother - despite the personal sacrifice she demands - or will his ambition for power prove a temptation too strong to resist?