Athelstane Ford

A young Athelstane Ford watches the sunset over Breydon Water, feeling the pull of a world far beyond his quiet Norfolk marshes. The arrival of his charismatic cousin Rupert—fresh from a prosperous brewing family—offers a glimpse of the excitement and danger that lie beyond the village’s familiar lanes. Their brief reunion ignites Athelstane’s restless desire to trade his modest homestead for the mysteries of distant lands.

Compelled by that longing, Athelstane sets out for the East Indies, chasing rumors of a hidden treasure within a Hindoo king’s palace. Along the way he confronts fierce adversaries, discovers an uneasy alliance that soon turns treacherous, and endures hardships that test both his courage and his heart. The early chapters promise a sprawling adventure of love, rivalry, and survival, hinting at the perilous path that will shape Athelstane’s destiny.