The Exploits of Einar Thambarskelfir. Viking Sagas, #24

Legacy, Loyalty, and LossBefore kings ruled by blood alone, there were men who ruled by influence. Born into one of Norway's most powerful noble families around the year 980, Einar Thambarskelfir rose from a boy trained with bow and wit into one of the most formidable political forces of the Viking Age. Known for his legendary archery and sharper mind, Einar did not seek the crown, yet shaped those who wore it. From the thunder of the Battle of Svolder to the shifting alliances that followed the fall of kings, Einar moves through a world where power is never secure and loyalty is always tested.
He stands against Olaf Haraldsson, survives the chaos of war, and navigates the dangerous rise of Danish rule under Cnut the Great. In exile and in court, across frozen lands and foreign kingdoms, he builds alliances, raises kings, and bends the fate of Norway without ever claiming the throne himself. But power comes at a cost."A gripping, intelligent saga of power and betrayal that brings the Viking world vividly to life.
Few stories capture the quiet force behind history as masterfully as this one." - Fredrich Studemon, Literary Critic