The Thirsty Sword

Beside a stream on Bute in 1262, sixteen-year-old Kenric meets his childhood companion Ailsa. Her concern for a nest of birds leads into a more troubling encounter: Elspeth Blackfell warns that Kenric's father, Earl Hamish, faces danger within Rothesay Castle. Ailsa fears the old woman's supposed powers, while Kenric tries to make sense of her words. Robert Leighton begins his historical adventure with island scenery, local superstition and an unsettling threat to a household.

The wider setting is the Norse invasion of Scotland in 1262 and 1263. Ships, island strongholds and rival loyalties give the story its scale, while watchful companions and urgent messages keep the action close to individual lives. A later scene follows Allan Redmain scanning the water for Kenric's squadron, turning distant sails into a source of suspense. Readers interested in medieval adventure will find a tale shaped by coastal geography, friendship and the responsibilities of leadership.