The Pale Horseman

During the fist couple chapters in the book, Uhtred of Bebbanburg has kind of created a lot of chaos in Wessex. He was at a battle fighting, and killed a great Danish Lord, but instead of going and showing King Alfred, he goes home to see his wife, Mildrith. This causes a problem because then another warrior, Ubba the Younger takes credit for winning the battle. This upsets Uhtred, so he rides to see Alfred, who is accompanied by Ubba while they are at church. Uhtred rides in the church with his horse and causes a huge scene. He talks about how he really killed the Danish lord, but because he disgraced Alfred so much in his church, he does not care who killed the lord. Uhtred then has to make a fool of himself and crawl on the floor past all the people, and kiss the floor in the church.
Once he is able to leave, he is even more upset than before. He goes home to his wife and son, and while at home he catches some men stealing lumber off of his land. Oswald, and some slaves were cutting down trees from a ridge high up on Uhtred's land, and selling them for profit. Uhtred is so outraged he then kills Oswald, rides to his home, and raids the house looking for the profit that he is making off of his own lumber. He finds 53 shillings in the floor of the house, but is now known as a murderer. His wife Mildrith cries over this, and causes more and more problems for Uhtred. He is losing his love for his wife, and talks about how after the war he could not wait to get home and see his wife, but now he cannot even stand to be at home with her because all she does is cry and complain.