Song of the Skald: The Warrior Breed by Ann Neve
When Conrad attains his dream of becoming a warrior in the service of the Lord Gustavus - he thinks his trials and suffering are behind him. But he has reckoned without the cunning of his master's arch-enemy, Ulric the Bold. Only the powers of Thorkell the Skald save Conrad from execution for his negligence in allowing Ulric to wreak vengeance.