Book Title: Pagan Warrior
Series: The Seventh Century
Author: MJ Porter
Publication Date: twenty fifth May 2015 (new cowl from January 2022)
Publisher: MJ Publishing
Page Length: 294
Genre: Historical fiction/Action and journey
Pagan Warrior
MJ Porter
Audiobook narrated by Matt Coles
Blurb:
From bestselling creator, MJ Porter comes the story of the mighty pagan king, Penda of Mercia.
Britain. AD632.
Penda, a warrior of immense renown, has a lot to show if he’s to rule the Mercian kingdom of his lifeless father and forestall the neighbouring king of Northumbria from claiming it.
Unexpectedly allying with the British kings, Penda races to battle the alliance of the Northumbrian king, not sure if his brother stands with him or towards him as they search battle glory for themselves, and the suitable to rule gained by way of bloody conquest.
There can be a victor and a bloody loser, and a king will rise from the ashes of the nice and horrible battle of Hædfeld.
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Author Bio:
MJ Porter is the creator of many historic novels set predominantly in Seventh to
Eleventh-Century England, in addition to three twentieth-century mysteries. Being raised within the shadow of a constructing that was believed to deal with the bones of long-dead Kings of Mercia, meant that the creator’s writing future was set.
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Narrator, Matt Coles:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mattcolesvoiceovers/
Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mattcolesvoiceovers
Website: www.mattcolesvoiceover.com
Book Excerpt:
In which Penda and Cadwallon first come to an settlement about dealing with Edwin of Northumbria.
Chapter 3
AD630 – Penda of Mercia
The (exiled) Court of Cadwallon of Gwynedd, Priestholm
I nonetheless haven’t determined what I consider Cadwallon. He appears to be each kingly and not kingly all on the similar time. He comes with every little thing a king ought to have other than confidence. Perhaps Edwin’s defeat did greater than ship him operating along with his tail between his legs? Maybe it made him overlook what it means to be kingly?
Either method, this potential alliance can be utilized to my benefit. I’d do effectively to have a sturdy ally. Someone who, whether or not he realises it or not, is taken into account a king worthy of emulation by many males. What Cadwallon has, others want. The incontrovertible fact that he nonetheless holds a lot of his lands, regardless of his failure, is proof of the loyalty of his males. And that he conjures up worry in others. They’ve not come to make good on his humiliation. That intrigues me.
I may have come as an enemy. Ridden roughshod over this weak king, however I didn’t realise how enfeebled he was. Now that I’ve met him, I’d fairly name him a buddy than an enemy. My anger at his messenger has dissipated. I’m much more intrigued by what he plans than my preliminary fury let me suppose.
His fame, mixed with the success that I’ll convey to our endeavour, will guarantee we’re each considered the best of kings, probably the most distinguished of warriors. We’ll be males to be feared. We’ll be united in our function.
Food is introduced and positioned earlier than us. I appraise it rigorously. It appears to be good beef, dripping with its juices. I eat it eagerly, and Cadwallon watches my face with curiosity, grinning once I swallow the meals rapidly and attain for extra.
‘It’s my favorite,’ he presents by means of a proof. ‘My wife knows the recipe, the herbs, the exact way it must be cooked. She keeps it a secret from everyone. She says she’ll all the time declare my abdomen that method.’
I nod in delight on the unusual little story. I’ve not but taken a spouse. I don’t a lot know if I would like one. I like selection in my mattress.
‘Do you not demand that she tells you?’ I ask round a mouthful of the scrumptious meat.
‘Where would the pleasure be in that?’ he asks. I begin to perceive him a bit of extra. He prefers to be taunted, have issues held away from him. He likes to attempt to perform the issues he achieves. He doesn’t need every little thing to be straightforward. I’m happy. What we’ve got deliberate gained’t be straightforward. Provided we each attempt for it, dream of it, want it, we’ll accomplish what we would like. Edwin’s dying, and presumably my brother’s as effectively. If that’s not an excessive amount of for which to hope. If my brother, as I think about he’ll, turns into an issue as an alternative of a cussed thorn in my finger to be born, his dying will turn into crucial.
‘You’ll be part of with me in forcing King Edwin again from my lands?’ Cadwallon asks the query that will need to have been burning his mouth with the need to ask it. That’s why it’s taken me two weeks to get right here. I’ve averted as lots of Edwin’s warriors as attainable and then taken a ship to the island of Priestholm, the place Cadwallon is regrouping. Edwin’s males scour the land. I do know they didn’t chase Cadwallon from the battlefield, however they hunt for him now.
Edwin additionally likes to make issues troublesome for himself.
I imagine he’s realised his mistake in letting him go.
The bloody fool.
‘I will, my lord. We scouted where we could on our way here. I assume you also know where Edwin’s males are primarily based.’
Cadwallon chuckles at my formal response. My phrases masks my love of slaying my enemies and decapitating any who step in my method.
‘First, we’ll take again Mon, and then the land of the Britons. Once they’re gone from there.’
‘And the land of the Middle Angles,’ I interject rapidly. I don’t wish to ship Edwin’s warriors their method. There are many amongst the Middle Angles, as we Saxons name the brand new kingdom, I name household and buddies.
‘Yes, or, we can send them further north, to Chester and then they’ll be virtually inside their kingdom.’
‘That would be best,’ I concur, and he grins at me.
‘You have designs on the Middle Angles?’ he queries. I shrug. It’s probably not any of his concern whether or not I do or not.
‘I’m barely even a prince but, not to mention a king,’ I say. My phrases make him snort, his hand hitting the desk loudly. His delight shocks me.
‘Penda, there’s no want to cover your pretensions from me. I don’t need the land of the Middle Angles. I simply need bloody King Edwin lifeless and gone.’
‘You don’t want to be an over king like Edwin or Rædwald earlier than him?’ I demand, confused, and not having fun with it.
‘No, I don’t. I imply, don’t misunderstand me, if I could possibly be, then I’d. If all of the kings and warfare leaders dropped lifeless, then I’d be king there. But I don’t look for it. Why would I?’
‘I want scops to compose poems of my battle prowess, to tell tales of me, fill the heads of foolish young warriors with my name.’
Cadwallon raises his consuming horn to my phrases, his merriment gone.
‘I want the same, and I, you’ll be happy to know, have already got scops who can try this for you.’
I virtually smirk at that, however I cease myself. I’m a bloody warrior, not a tittering baby.
‘One day, I’ll have scops,’ I say as an alternative, sustaining my façade of the mighty warrior.
‘You will, my Lord Penda, you will.’
I’ve by no means but heard my title with ‘Lord’ previous it. I like that, and Cadwallon, rattling the person, is aware of it as effectively. I attempt to cowl my temporary flare of pleasure, however he’s laughing once more, not at me however with me, and I be part of him.
I like Cadwallon, I resolve at that second. I may not be his equal but, however I can be.
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