The Egyptian through whose veins flows twice royal blood is condemned from birth to live out his life imprisoned within a subterranean labyrinth of stone, victim of a false prophesy. Years later with the help of a grizzled veteran of the Blue Crane Legions, a priest of Horus and Nafraya, initiate of the Isis Mysteries, he breaks free and attempts to pierce the mystery of his life.
His mother was descended from the line of Sheba. His father, Ahmose, ruler of the Two Lands, God's regent on earth. If acknowledged one day he would rule Egypt. therefore he must die. Even so not even mighty Pharaoh dared spill the infants twice royal blood. Falling victim to a false prophecy, both mother and son are condemned to live out their lives sealed within a vast subterranean labyrinth. The infant grows, his mother dies. Contrary to all expectations the boy thrives and unknowingly builds up incredible inner spiritual strength. Years pass, then one day soldiers drag him forth from his dim and silent world. Hustling the bewildered youth across the desert only to reconfine him within the precincts of an almost forgotten temple of Horus, where an old soldier and an aging priest befriend the strange, confused youth. Later, by way of a series of unusual events he meets and falls in love with Nafraya, initiate of the Isis mysteries only to have her torn from his arms and sold for a handful of gold. Her loss igniting within him sudden desire to break free from the only life he has ever known to find her. The Egyptian flees from his temple prison knowing not who or what he is, as he fights for his life. With only his love of Nafraya to sustain him, as he walks alone toward fulfillment of a weirding destiny in the lands of the Alanii Celts. Stumbling upon ancient buried secrets along the way, battling disciples of the False Prophet who remorselessly hunt him down. The Egyptian must find himself or die.
Excerpt
The day had begun to wane when we came in sight of the temple. Its ancient stones gleaming like pale river gold in the last of the sun's throw away light. Young was I. The belly of me tight with fear.
'It looks like a fortress,' I whispered.
'Aye, that it does,' answered Kalid, the gravel voice of him softening as he sensed my uncertainty.
Why here, I thought soundlessly, why here? Fear dropped down through my flesh like stone as I clutched Kalid tightly.
'Easy lad, easy,' he soothed. 'Lonely you might be in yon place but no one will harm thee. My word on it,' he added forcefully.
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They came like whispers of wind across the sand. Lean, grim faced warriors with smoky yellow eyes. Like death they came armed and deadly with a hungry predatory look about them.
Still was the moment, and about as silent as ever I had known a birthing sunrise to be.
They fanned out, enclosing me within a loose circle. Their very silence eerily frightening. Twenty four years had I lived and not a one of them lived free.
And I will die, I vowed, ere I be constrained again.
Ireland 1947. Seven weeks of relentless snow. Guard Eamon Foley is searching for a missing child.
At Toby Appleyard’s farm, he discovers the kitchen littered with dead cats. And the skeletal remains of a woman. Upstairs, Toby is dead in his bed.
Fourth Book in the Southern Swallow Series finds the Academician Li K'ai-men in exile on Hai-nan Island. China has a new invasion threat. A showdown between ingenuity and technology explodes as the Sung Dynasty tries to preserve itself.
