Lord Artos--later to rule as the legendary King Arthur--knew he could defeat the Saxon invaders if only he could find a race of horses swift and strong enough to carry warriors in full regalia fast and far. And so he set out for the Continent, in search of the famed horses of the desert.

The key to Lord Artos' plan was the young runaway Galwyn Varianus, whose gift for horse-trading was second only to his skill with horses. What no one expected was how crucial Galwyn would be to the upcoming battles--as he mastered the secrets of the iron shoes that would protect the desert horses' delicate hooves . . .

This fast-moving historical fantasy by bestselling author Anne McCaffrey--the story of King Arthur as it has never been told before--is about the beginnings of the British cavalry, as recounted by a boy growing up in exciting and perilous times.

Anne McCaffrey lives in Ireland, in a house of her own design, called Dragonhold-Underhill, so named because she had to dig out a hill to build it. For many years she ran a private livery stable, raising and training horses for horse trails and show jumping.

She is the author of the popular Dragonriders of Pern series, which begins with the novel Dragonfighters (available from Del Rey Imagine). Her most popular titles for young readers include the Harper Hall novels: Dragonsong, Dragonsinger, and Dragondrums.