The West Rises : Book 1 in High KingAn exciting new historical fiction series by Welsh author S.M.Davies, bringing the Dark Age to life. When the Romans abandon Britain, they leave behind chaos and threats of invasion from all sides. A land full of frightened people, facing slaughter by raiding Picts and Saxons. Feckless leaders and powerful priests, too obsessed with their own feuds to see that the islands are standing on the brink of catastrophe. Only one man can save the nation: VORTIGERN.His adopted name means 'High King', but he is an outsider from the far West, despised by the establishment and by jealous rivals who will block his path to power.Vortigern's greatest ally is young warrior Kerin Brightspear. Bound by oath and love to Vortigern, who saved him from death as an abandoned child and raised him with his own sons, Kerin yearns to prove his worth to the man he idolises. But time is running out. Beyond the borders, enemies are growing stronger by the day. Can Kerin seize the chance to repay his debt as Vortigern bids for the crown?Centuries later, the legends will call Vortigern a villain, but to a frightened people threatened with annihilation he was the High King. This is his story, seen through the eyes of Kerin, the young warrior who becomes his devoted companion.