Harald Sigurdsson, Norwegian prince, arrives in Constantinople in 1038 with 500 soldiers, whereupon he is offered command of the Varangian Guard, the Norse half of the Emperor's bodyguard. Harald, entangled in Greek lies and intrigue, hardly knows whom to trust: John, the real ruler of the Eastern Empire; Zoe, the widowed Empress, or the Patriarch of the Eastern Church who had schemes of his own. Written by longtime Adventure magazine contributor,...