Faced with the choice between his people’s salvation and his own survival, one man chooses a glorious death over shameful life.When the Roman Legions invade the idyllic Mark, home to the many houses of the Gothic Kindreds, a people’s freedom is threatened by a looming imperialism forgetful of hearth and home. But, the men of the mark rise against their foe to defeat “a grim folk that laugheth to see others weep.” Their leader forsakes his own life to ensure that his family and his kindred may live on.Morris recounts this tale with beautiful prose, scattered with plentiful lyrical poetry. This book, along with The Roots of the Mountains, was cited by J. R. R. Tolkien as part of the inspiration for his writing The Lord of the Rings.