This wasn't the last thing Wellman wrote (that was a fragment dealing with a new adventure of Hok the mighty), or even had published (the Silver John short story "Where did she wander"). But it was his last novel, and its not about Hok, or Silver John, or Thunstone, or even Judge Puirsuvant - its about a not-so-simple English Saxon warrior by the name of Wulf, and his adventures in North Africa with the Cahena, a Witch-Queen fighting off the oncoming Moslem hordes that have just sacked Carthage.
Wulf's story opens - and closes - 30 years later, telling his story to Charles Martel, and planning to fight with him at the Battle of Tours. In between, we see Wulf as a man versed in literature and warfare, having a gift for languages and reading: and having read Belisarius, Caesar, and others he is a master tactician as well as a strong sword arm. But for all that he is a man with all the weaknesses of the flesh, falling in love with the Cahena, being jealous of a rival and yet succumbing to the ample charms of a young woman who throws herself at him.
While written as historical fiction - as best we can tell the history from those times, it appears accurate - there is also an element of sword and sorcery here, without it being able to be properly classified as fantasy either. The Cahena does in fact appear to speak to spirits, and there are glimpses of a dark god, and more than glimpses of a vampiric lamia-woman. All of that though is secondary to the story of the Cahena's defence of her territory against invaders, well told and well written. The characters are nicely drawn and distinct - with flaws as great as their strengths.
As far as I can tell, this was only ever published in hardcover, at about the time Mr Wellman died. It was never reprinted in paperback or republished. Its pretty short - less than 200 pages - but packed with action and information. There are a lot of worse ways to spend a few hours than reading this book.
