Category: Fantasy Publisher: Createspace
ISBN-10: 145365433X
Type: Fiction
Pages: 284
Copyright: July 17, 2010
ISBN-13: 9781453654330
Grand Master Mark Andrew Ramsay, Chevalier du Morte, Poor Knight of Solomon's Temple, must gather together the tattered remnants of his once powerful Order and retreat to the Isle of Ramsay to make a last stand against Omar Kadif and his global army as the new Prince of New Babylon makes his bid for world dominion. Mark's domestic problems continue unabated with the loss of his beloved brother Luke Matthew while his own son teams up with Omar against him in what appears to be a no-win situation as more and more Templars abandon the Order and join the Fox. The dreaded Skull of Sidon falls into enemy hands and Carlisle Corrigan falls prey to his blind devotion to his apprentice. Ramsay and his dwindling band of loyal supporters must contend with an ever tightening noose as Omar bides his time, waiting for the world to bow at his feet.
History tells us that the Knights Templar were disbanded on Friday the 13th of October 1307 when the King of France conspired with the Pope to have them rounded up, arrested and imprisoned on spurious charges of heresy, blasphemy and other crimes. But the King was not quite successful. Some of them escaped. Some of them thrived and some have lived a long, long time. In fact, an entire sub-order called the Red Cross of Gold is still operating in the twenty-first century behind the scenes, waiting for Armageddon and the return of Christ when they plan to fight the Anti-Christ at his side.
Mark Andrew Ramsay, the Chevalier du Morte, Knight of Death is one of twelve members of the semi-immortal members of the ruling council of the Order of the Red Cross of Gold. He is a reclusive Scot with a grumpy personality who spends most of his time in the lowlands of Scotland where he works as alchemist, assassin and Knight of Death for the Order. He provides them the financial means to support their global operations, he makes sure that the members of the Order stay in line and he releases the souls of his semi-immortal Brothers when the need arises.
Excerpt
“Hail. Draig-talamh of the Caer Anoir. We thank you for joining us in this nemeton. I bid ye depart in peacef,” he began the closing of the circle, but it was too late. A great spout of red flame erupted from the cauldron behind him and shot high into the sky before curling back in on itself. Barry shrieked in his face at the sight of the creature which had come from the flames of the fire. A great horned beast with deep black eyes and scaly folds of flesh on its thick neck and shoulders was beginning to form in the ball of flame above their heads.
“Holy Mother!” Mark Andrew shouted, dropped the dagger and hurried back to the altar stone, carefully skirting the cauldron which was now glowing yellow hot in the intense heat.
“Hail, worshippers of Nergal!”
A great, deep voice boomed over the circle and three out of eight of the Knights around the circle fell to their knees, crossing themselves in terror. “Who calls the mighty Lord of Dust and Ashes? What is your desire, little ones?”
Mark Andrew grabbed the hilt of the golden sword and pulled on it with all his strength. It would not budge from the stone.
The terrible visage of the Lord of the Abyss turned its face toward Sister Meredith.
“Hail, Priestess of Ninib," he boomed and she put both hands to her face as she stared up at the thing. “What is your desire?”
Meredith was frozen in fear. This was the same creature she had inadvertently awakened in the Abyss.
“I... I... I...” she began and stopped.
“Let her be!” Mark Andrew shouted at the terrible presence and tugged desperately on his sword.
Nergal turned his attention on Mark Andrew and drew himself up even more terribly. He reached one long, sinewy arm toward Mark and tried to grab him. His hand passed through Mark Andrew and left him standing as if stricken with paralysis.
“Ahhhh. The wizard. Adar. You have done well to protect yourself from my wrath. Do not think yourself so great as to challenge me. I will break your charms and spells. I am not a fool as my wife was. She underestimated you, but I will not.” Nergal swayed and then placed his great hand on one of the stone lintels. The huge stone grated as he tightened his grip. The crowning stone of the sarsen trilithon must have weighed at least twenty tons and would not pass so lightly through the Grand Master.
“It was I who called you, Great Lord Nergal!” Lucio stepped forward and held up his sword.
The thing swayed, loosed its grip on the stone, which settled back into its place with a grinding boom. He turned slightly before bending toward the Knight of the Golden Eagle.
“Aaahhhh, the King of Babylonia,” his voice was overpowering. It buffeted their ears like being inside a bass drum. “What is your request? Do you seek your god, Marduk? He is lost to you. Your petitions fall on deaf ears.”
“I seek your presence, Mighty Nergal!” Lucio shouted at him. “I seek the destruction of the dragon.”
Lucio was making it up as he went along. They had summoned him. They’d better have a good reason.
“Ohhhh. The serpent. The great one. She belongs to me now.” The horrible features of the Lord of the Abyss actually contorted into the semblance of a smile. “You would destroy what your god has created?”
“I would seek only to protect my people from her wrath,” Lucio told him.
“Then you would do well to speak to your wizard,” Nergal answered him. “It was he who captured the Queen and cast her into the pit. He is the dragon maker and the son of Saturn. I have no interest in the workings of men. They are but dust to me. Adar would be more benevolent of your petitions. It is he and Marduk who would meddle in the affairs of men. But what is your desire, great King?”
“Allow us to depart in peace,” Lucio raised his arms to the flaming entity. “That is my desire.”
“I did not bring you here.” Nergal let go with a great rumbling roar and Mark Andrew let go of the sword as he realized that the Lord of the Abyss was laughing at them. “You summoned me.”
“We beg your forgiveness!” Lucio shouted at him. He could hear Simon praying and sensed the presence of Konrad von Hetz near his right shoulder.
“Your trespasses are great, little ones!” Nergal boomed. “You and yours have disturbed the workings of the Abyss and the matters of the underworld. Such trespasses are not taken lightly. I have seen your minions in the darkness of my realm. Your meddling has caused much distress. Your wizard has saved you from my wrath with his magick. And it is to him I would owe my favor for having subdued the Queen. I would command that you go not about honoring these worshippers of Danu. The Tuatha de Danann are banished from this land. Their Druids have become as nothing and yet I smell the stench of the Lugh.”
“I assure you, sir, that we are not Druids. But I am... we are forever in your debt, Master of Kurnugi. My wizard has done me great justice in honoring you, my Lord.” Lucio glanced at Mark Andrew and gave him an apologetic shrug, trying to let him know that he was winging it.
“I am the Lord of the Sebitti. The Sebetti serve me. If you call me forth again without cause, I will set the Sebitti against you and your kind.” The fearsome Lord of the Abyss looked about the circle. “The Queen serves me now. Remember your place, little one.” The Lord of the Abyss’ eyes glowed with red fire deep in the black sockets. He turned his head from side to side and they heard him snuffling the air like a great hunting dog. “And what is this?” He turned quickly and looked down at the form of the Djinni standing below him in his sparkling armor. The Djinni raised his arms and turned about slowly as if modeling for the infernal beast.
“I know you. Kadif, Lord of Vulcan. I had thought you perished when your world was destroyed by Marduk.” Everyone in the circle shuddered and covered their ears at the hideous sound of the Lord’s laughter. “Give my regards to Semiramis. Her infernal brood is growing and hatching new things daily. Tell her to come and see me again. I did enjoy her company and I’m sure her sister would be glad to see her.” The creature laughed again and Meredith shrieked as the sound burst over the monument, causing the very stones to vibrate.
“I will tell my mother that you spoke of her with fond remembrance,” Lemarik smiled up at the creature.
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