Born in a time of tumultuous change, sixteen-year-old Cedric was just trying to get by. A novice monk by day - Cedric was not your average boy. Prone to visions and strange behaviours, he was bullied by the others in Mercia, and he never knew where he belonged. His only solace was looking out into the sea, where adventure -and danger-beckoned. The day the Northmen raided the monastery, his life was changed forever - capturing not only Cedric but a mysterious chalice, an old relic of Jerusalem, highly prized by the monks. Sold into slavery and sent far away from his homeland, Cedric was determined to return the chalice to its rightful place. Fey and feckless, Cedric befriends a dancing girl Theodora and a thief called Balkis. Inspired by a raven in his darkest moments, Cedric embarks on a journey to the Great Palace of Constantinople with his new companions, facing many obstacles in his way. Will he succeed in his mission? . . . . . Cedric and the Golden Chalice of Mercia is a delightful mix of fantasy and historical fiction that presents an exciting voyage across 8th century Europe and the quest of an unlikely hero.