Category: Fantasy Publisher: Createspace
ISBN-10: 1453628290
Type: Fiction
Pages: 268
Copyright: June 26, 2010
ISBN-13: 9781453628294
The Chevalier du Morte is forced to retain his control of the Order as Grand Master when Edgard d'Brouchart is forced into exile after the Order's headquarters is buried by a volcanic eruption. Ramsay moves the Order to Scotland and tries to restore spiritual strength of purpose to the rapidly changing face of the poor Knights of Solomon's Temple. A few precious years of respite leads to many changes as Mark asserts his own management style over the Order that he considers 'Out of Order'. What starts out as a quick foray into the Underworld in search of Annoni turns disasterous when Lavon accidentally releases Yasmin from a magick amulet. On the domestic front, Meredith's relationship with her children deteriorates just as love blossoms between two unlikely pairs within the Order. The Djinn's children prove to be surprising anomalies and Simon's boys begin their education under Sir Barry's tutelage. John Paul, the prophet takes up his father's old habits much to everyone's chagrin and insists that he is ready to retire as a Knight of the Council, something unprecedented in the Order's history. The Djinni wreaks havoc on the Golden Eagle's love life as the Italian Knight learns that there is much more to his Egyptian Mysteries than he had ever assumed. After much meditation, studying and thinking, Mark Ramsay receives divine assistance in his struggle to relocate the missing dragon
The Children of the Temple, Book 13 of the Assassin series moves the story along as the Knight's children continue to exert more and more influence on the affairs of the Order. Mark Ramsay continues his role as Grand Master, but is still struggling to find a solution to the problem of the Red Serpent and the sin he feels requires the Holiest of Sacrifices. Once again, his attempts to make things right backfire in an unexpected manner and he finds himself alone and at the mercy of his Brothers when they accuse him of witchcraft and heresy.
Excerpt
Christopher Stewart bounded into the hall and then drew up short as he took in the scene before him.
“Run, boy!” Luke shouted at him.
Christopher turned about and Beaujold drew his sword before racing after him. Von Hetz turned when Mark coughed and spat up yet more dark blood. He was awake again. The Knight approached Mark Andrew cautiously and knelt in front of him in the ashes and shook his shoulder.
“Would you like to confess, Brother?” the dark Knight asked him when he opened his eyes.
Mark Andrew nodded his head slightly.
Von Hetz made the sign of the cross over him.
“I confess to God Almighty, the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost, that I have sinned exceedingly in thought, word and deed, through my own fault,” Mark drew a ragged breath and cringed in pain before continuing “wherefore I pray God to have mercy upon me. Wherefore I pray God to have mercy upon me, to forgive me my sins, even those which I cannot now remember, for Jesus Christ's sake.” Mark Andrew whispered the words of the Templar confession. His voice was nothing more than a breathless whisper. He only wanted this to be over and to accept what punishment God had in mind for him now that He had shown him that their deal was off. He had failed again and he had sinned with Meredith Sinclair in this life just as he had done in the previous life. He had thrown away his only chance to redeem the Order and now God would allow him to die a suitable death for his sin. The failure was his and the fault lay in his weakness. “Don’t kill my brother, Sir,” he said before continuing. “He is innocent of these things.”
Von Hetz nodded. “You can rest easy on that account, Brother. What is the nature of your sin, my son?” he continued the words of the surrealistic ceremony.
“It has been... one day since my last confession.” Mark Andrew tried to remember when he had confessed. The night before. Before Merry had tried to kill herself. “I have failed my Brothers and the Order. I have traded my soul for the love of a woman.”
Von Hetz frowned. This was not what he had expected.
“Go on,” he urged the Knight of Death to continue, hoping that he would say something significant before Beaujold returned.
“Sacrilege!” Luke shouted at them. “Ye’re a murderer! Not a priest! ’ow can ye take ’is confession when ye air a sinner o’ th’ warst koind?”
“Thot is oll, Brother,” Mark Andrew breathed and looked at him steadily. “Wud ye care t’ ’ave a look?”
Von Hetz faltered. He did not trust the man.
“You would put a spell on me.” Von Hetz looked away from Mark’s dark blue eyes.
“Ye’re afraid o’ th’ truth, air ye?” Mark Andrew’s voice became a bit stronger.
“I am afraid of Satan.” The Ritter steadfastly refused to meet his gaze.
“D’ ye really b’lieve thot I am th’ devil, Konrad?”
Von Hetz turned his head almost involuntarily and their eyes locked…
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