Dark Alliance: Morrigan's Brood Book III - Softcover

Dunbar, Heather Poinsett; Dunbar, Christopher

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1937341208 ISBN 13: 9781937341206

Publisher: Triscelle Publishing, 2011

Synopsis

Following their war against the Deargh Du, the Lamia have refocused their efforts toward controlling the Church of Rome, using it as a tool for amassing greater power and wealth. In Eire, fissures have formed in Deargh Du society, threatening to break apart the once firm foundation of the Balance. In the midst of these events, a new menace threatens the Balance within the Holy Roman Empire as vicious murders of both mortals and blood-drinkers spread throughout the empire like wildfire. Can a hastily formed alliance between arch enemies thwart this new menace, or will festering hatred bring about the empire’s doom? Continue the journey... the third in a series of stories revolving around the Deargh Du through the ages.

About this title

From the Author

When planning out the books of the Morrigan's Brood Series, Heather and I examined many different periods in history where some kind of change in direction occurred... historical events that would make wonderful backdrops for our stories.  With Morrigan's Brood, Caesar's first attempt to explore Britain and the eventual fall of Rome were two of the major events that provided the setting for our first novel.  With Crone of War, we chose the 6th century, because the ancient Celtic beliefs were still taught in the west of Ireland, and this was just before great changes in rulership and language.

Dark Alliance begins the year after a King named Karl becomes crowned Imperium Romanum by Pope Leo III; history knows this man by the name of "Charlemagne", which also means Charles the Great,  Karl der Große, and Carolus Magnus.  Heather and I felt there was more depth to this conqueror of the Saxons, this founder of higher education and improved law than is commonly written about in the history books.  We found him so interesting that he is a major character in at least five of our next works.

Some of the characters from Morrigan's Brood and Crone of War are here, except for the one's we killed off... but there maybe a surprise or two.  However, our readers will become acquainted with some new characters from the early 9th century CE, such as Julien de Divio and Heloise de Divio, who will figure prominently in the next three books.

So, sit back and continue your journey... Dark Alliance begins a new trilogy of the Morrigan's Brood Series.  Enjoy!

From the Inside Flap

     "Wake up, my lovely."
     Something prodded Julien's left shoulder.  He turned his head and opened his eyes, but he had to hold up his right hand to shield his face as a brilliant sun made him wince a bit.
     A dark stranger with brilliant, blue eyes smiled down at him, crouched down, and then offered his hand.
     "You look confused, young man," said the dark stranger.
Julien looked around and found himself in the middle of a mass of motionless bodies clad in a myriad of strange clothes.  Among them, Julien could see naked men and women, clad only in blue paint, men in strange, green or gray helms holding odd clubs, and he even noticed a few Franks lay about, next to people of richer skin tones with feathers in their headdresses.  He then found himself pulled up.  Though his head spun a bit, Julien felt more or less himself.
     "Where are we?" he asked the stranger.  "Who are you?" he added.
"Where we are has many names.  'Tír na Nóg' is one, while 'the Otherworld' is another.  Personally, I like to call it 'the sylvan path between the two roads'.  You are in a place outside of your world and outside of your time.  I am a guide on this road, and I help younglings find their way.  My name is Adhamdh, and I am Morrigan's first son, the eldest Deargh Du.  I spent well over a millennia on your world, but then the Great Queen called me home.  I am here to pull those who quest to their feet, dust them off, and tell them to prepare to meet with Morrigan.  Of course, I have some curiosity about my growing family."
Adhamdh turned to look at the horizon as a raven landed on his shoulder, cackling.  He then regarded Julien once more.  "Be truthful. You will find Her answers more satisfying," Adhamdh stated.
Julien watched a black mist fall around the blood-drinker and the raven, and then the mists melted, but Julien now found himself alone.
He took an uneasy step and nearly tripped over a man clad in metal. Then, a cacophonous sound echoed throughout the field of bodies, and he turned to face the source of the sound.  He witnessed an unkindness of ravens mesh together, forming a darkness that covered the sun.  Screams echoed forth from their beaks as the ravens flew straight towards him. Julien flinched, fearing for his life, when the ravens stopped and just hovered a few feet away from Julien.  Then their forms began to meld together in an expanding sphere of growing darkness.  Soon, a figure walked from the darkness, which dissipated, along with most of the ravens, though a few flew about.
     Julien's legs nearly buckled as the figure stepped closer.  She wore only blue paint, covering her body in woven and interlaced designs of exquisite beauty, a leather belt incorporating the same style of design as her body paint, and a strange cloak that seemed to be made of feathers.  In her hands she held a spear as tall as one and a half men and an oblong shield as tall as she stood.  From her, he could hear the ethereal music of metal hitting against metal combined with blood-curdling screams.  Her hair seemed indescribable.  Sometimes it appeared to be the darkest of reds, and yet, sometimes it appeared to be the color of a raven's wing.  Her black within black eyes met, his and he could not turn away.
     "You are confused," the figure stated.  "You will know me as 'Morrigan', though I have many other names, but 'Morrigan' will suffice for you."

About this edition

• Publisher: Triscelle Publishing
• Publication date: 2011
• ISBN 10: 1937341208
• ISBN 13: 9781937341206
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 360
• Editor: Aalderink Sarah E., Rosenburg Jillian
• Illustrator: Taylor Khanada, Hartley Dayna