The bishop of Durham attempts to surrender the city

"During the conquest of Northern England, the fairy host sweeps across the countryside. The city of Durham finds itself surrounded. But the encircling forces are not fairies, nor even other humans, buttrees that trap the city within an eerie wood. Ranulf, Bishop of Durham-a consummate politician-understands that the survival of the Northern English people depends on his finding a way to unite the two races, human and fairy. And he's not averse to improving his own position at the same time. With these aims in view, he sets off for theNew Castle, in search of the new King-the leader of the fairy host,rumored to be a mysterious human boy, no more than fourteen years old, who speaks no word of any human language."--Provided by publisher