'Take my place, Phaedrus, and with it, take my vengeance .' Phaedrus the gladiator wins his freedom after years of bloody battles in the arena. Soon he finds himself riding north towards the wilds of Caledonia on a strange mission. He is to assume the identity of Midir, Lord of the Horse People, to seek vengeance against the treacherous Liadhan, who had usurped the throne. Ahead of him lies more adventure and more danger than he had ever known in the arena . Rosemary Sutcliff is universally considered one of the finest writers of historical novels for children. Winner of the Carnegie Medal and many other honours, Rosemary was awarded a CBE in 1992 for services to children's literature.