The Ruby Phoenix, Part 1 (Paperback)

When one thinks of the story of Camelot, the immediate thoughts are those of King Arthur, Queen Guinevere, Sir Lancelot and all of the Knights of the Round Table. One barely considers the many trials of the champions of Camelot, hardly wondering how the heroes were chosen and tested for their bravery and adherence to the ideals of Arthur. This tale is designed to answer those questions. The character of the Black Knight’s story has never been truly told; to many he is a mysterious and evil man, who appears at various moments in the story, always to administer a lesson in chivalry. The story of Camelot is told in a fresh and clear manner, through the eyes of the Champion of Avalon. One begins to understand, as the story progresses, how Arthur’s kingdom faced and conquered the many threats of intrigue that threatened the Kingdom of Light. One sees behind the scenes as the Black Knight travels the length and breadth of Britain, seeking out both highborn and common traitors, eliminating them in the Goddess’ name. When he meets the character of the Ruby Phoenix, he finds an ally and teacher of the highest quality. His skills are tested and improved under this teacher’s guidance, and he is able to rise to his toughest challenge against Arthur’s most deadly enemy of the time.

I was born in the summer of 1957 in the Pacific Northwest, the middle child of five. As a result of that, I was always and continue to be somewhat inclined towards daydreaming and shyness. When I was the age of 12, I discovered the stories of Greek and Roman mythology. At 13, I discovered the tale of King Arthur and The Knights of the Round Table and fell under the spell of the legend. I would retreat to the woods behind my parents' house and play at knights and ladies, all by myself of course, until one of my older siblings was sent to fetch me back to reality and household chores. As I entered my later teens, I continued to be fascinated by the story, especially the part concerning the relationship of Arthur, Guinevere, and Lancelot. I picked up any fantasy novel having to do with Arthur in any way. One was The Crimson Chalice, which introduced me to the fact that Arthur may have been the offshoot of Marcus Aurelius. Certainly, the great king was raised in a world influenced by Rome. I began investigating older books written about the warlord Arthur, such as Le Morte de Arthur, and how the legend might have began and been spread. As I grew older and found other sources of information concerning the legend, I became more interested in the mysteries behind the story: the tales of Merlin and the Ladies of Avalon. I wondered if they could be in any way true at all, and began investigating that aspect. This led me to many books on modern Magick, and finally I read Marian Zimmer Bradley's book, The Mists of Avalon. Her writing captivated me. Along my way, I kept encountering the tale of the elusive Black Knight, painted in most versions as a terrifying individual who appeared at the most opportune moments to test the Knights of Camelot. The character enchanted me with his elusive nature and I was bound and determined to find out what he was all about. One night I had a most startling dream. In this dream, I was given an overview of the time of Camelot through the eyes of the Black Knight, the champion of Ceridwen. When I awoke, I knew I must write down this story and so I began with pen and paper. Finally, I finished the first segment of the story and began the next, and onto the next. At last, some three years later, I finished the entire story and began my revisions. Now over twenty five years later, the story is ready to be released in print. I hope you will enjoy this very different tale of the times of Camelot!