The Avars sharpen their teeth at the young principality that has formed along the Danube. Of course, the Frankish king Chlothar also watches the foothills of the Alps greedily—salt mines in someone else’s hands won’t let him rest. The prince spins like a squirrel in a wheel, trying to protect the growing power from greedy neighbors. An Avar horde has come onto his lands—one that no one has ever been able to defeat. He is locked up in the city with a small detachment: with him are his beloved wife and little son. Surviving will be extremely, extremely difficult…