Hello, I’m currently devouring Pale Horseman and wonderful stuff it is, too! Uhtred is a fascinating character, not as noble, I think, as Derfel (who remains my favourite of your ‘heroes’.) Here we are, back again in Merlin’s lands of Avalon and you can hear his words haunting Alfred and Uthred’s lives: ‘Fate is inexorable.’ You have also managed to make the Christians even worse than ever and like Uthred I am exasperated at their perfidious stupidity and greed. Great stuff – thanks. Jeremy Griffiths