Welcome to the Book Tour for The Sun God's Heir: Rebirth, Book 2 in Elliott Baker's new series!
Book Information:
Title: The Sun God's Heir: Rebirth, Book 2
Author Name: Elliott Baker
Genre(s): Historical Fiction, Fantasy
Release Date: April 18, 2017
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About The Sun God's Heir: Rebirth, Book 2:
The Count of Monte Cristo meets ancient Egypt in this riveting sequel to The Sun God’s Heir: Return.
Set during the wave tossed years of white slavery and Barbary pirates, this is the epic story of René Gilbert, a journey that defies time as he must draw on a larger awareness earned in previous lifetimes.
The plague’s dark fingers curl around Bordeaux. René must return home to save those he loves. But first he has to escape a Moroccan sultan’s clutches. In Bordeaux, an enemy waits, filled with a hatred three thousand years old. Only René can defeat this dark power, and only if he reclaims his own ancient past. In this arena, death is but the least of failure’s penalties.
Excerpt
The medina of Casablanca was a warren of narrow winding
streets filled with stalls of all shapes and sizes. René followed Akeefa and
Abdul-Karim as they entered through a constricted archway and left behind the
blinding sunlight. René stopped to take it all in. A thousand sights and sounds
assaulted him at once. An intense level of energy and human striving filled the
air. The sounds and smells were strident, immediate. A cacophony reverberated
from the walls as metalworkers hammered on copper and brass and iron. Jewelers,
leather workers, and weaponsmiths all contributed to the din of men and animals
pursuing their desires. The enticing smells of food and coffee pervaded the
space. Booth after booth of delicacies was on display along with the occasional
goat carcass that hung from the canopy poles waiting for the butcher’s cleaver.
“This is overwhelming.” René sucked in a deep breath.
“Something smells good. Perhaps we might sit and have a coffee while I try to
make sense of this incredible place.”
“That is an excellent idea.” Abdul-Karim grinned. “I know
just the place and ’tis not far from here.”
“More food,” Akeefa said with some exasperation. “You
promised I would be able to shop and you know I cannot go off on my own. Some
stupid man would say or do something and after I had killed him, we would spend
the morning yelling or fighting or both. With you two, I will at least have
some measure of freedom.”
René gazed sideways at Akeefa. He knew her well enough not
to doubt the possibility of her statement, but he hoped she spoke in jest.
Abdul-Karim grimaced like he had bitten into a lemon. He
turned to René. “You must trust my experience in this. Given the amount of
walking and waiting we face, you will definitely need nourishment.”
René laughed. “Perhaps we might feed Abdul-Karim so we may
better attack this shopping from a position of strength.”
“Oh, all right.” Akeefa rolled her eyes. “My master taught
me when to make a strategic retreat and this is clearly one of those times. I
will want, however, to see that stamina later. Understood?” She glared at
Abdul-Karim.
Her effort was wasted on her older brother. Abdul-Karim’s
demeanor changed to one of joyful expectation. “I know just the place. Best
pastries in Morocco. This way.”
René glanced around. Even over the din and chaotic movement
of the medina, he had the sensation they were being watched. The fact that he
was a Frenchman was immaterial. There were many different nationalities present
within the medina. Non, he, René
Gilbert, was being observed.
“Do you believe they
will attack again so soon?” asked René.
“The Hashashin that attacked us on the quay in Larache were
paid by the sultan’s younger brother Ismail. I do not sense that level of
organization. There are many bands of robbers and slavers within Morocco. It
can be a difficult place to live,” said Abdul-Karim. “And there are those in
Rabat who will not allow our victory over their brethren go unrevenged,
regardless of the sultan’s orders.”
Both men loosened their blades while Akeefa huffed at the
conventions that prevented her from carrying a sword. Still, an attacker would
find her armed.
“Let us sit at that tavern.” Abdul-Karim pointed across the
lane. “It has good sight lines and there are avenues of escape if necessary.”
Once seated, Abdul-Karim ordered coffee and an assortment of
cakes.
Akeefa pursed her lips.
“What? We might as well eat something while we wait.”
The square had grown quieter as people found their business
called them elsewhere. Men collected in small groups. So far, the numbers of
their enemies were not overwhelming and René was content to wait. He glanced at
Abdul-Karim. The smile on his face evidenced a gleeful anticipation at the
prospect of combat. His friend genuinely liked to fight.
“It appears someone is willing to invest a great deal of
money in our removal. As much as I would like to engage in this contest—”
Abdul-Karim glanced over at his sister. “And we have them outmanned, father
would advise us to retreat and gather reinforcements.”
Abdul-Karim inclined his head. They stood as groups of men
moved to block the exits.
“We may not be offered that opportunity.” Akeefa slipped her
hand beneath her burka.
“Let us make our way toward the medina’s entrance. If we
reach the confines of the arch, we gain a slight advantage in the number of our
enemy able to come against us.” René’s rapier was in his hand.
The scimitar Abdul-Karim pulled from his sash reflected
sunlight along its razor sharp edge. A wicked looking dagger appeared in
Akeefa’s hand. René eased left of Akeefa leaving a sword length between them as
Abdul-Karim stepped to her right.
The square was now empty except for the growing number of
armed men drawing their swords. René studied the upper stories of the souk. No
musket barrels protruded from those windows.
René counted thirty men circling them and moving closer.
“Akeefa, move to the front and make first contact. A moment’s confusion having
you walk before us will be useful. It is not that unusual for a woman to carry
a dagger. Perhaps you might hold it a little less respectfully.”
“I will do my clumsy best.” Akeefa managed to move to the
front, intentionally tripping on her burka.
The number of men waiting before the medina’s arch had
increased to ten. Smug smiles played on their faces. Apparently they found
humor in two men so cowardly as to hope a woman would protect them. One eager
young mercenary swaggered out to meet Akeefa.
“Throw down your weapons and your deaths will be easier,”
said the man as he waved his scimitar toward Akeefa. He ignored the dagger that
shook in her trembling hand.
“D…do you intend to kill us all?” Akeefa stuttered in a
high-pitched voice.
The fool preened, sticking his chest out. “Drop your
weapons.”
In the briefest space of time, Akeefa moved to within
striking distance and slit his throat, relieving him of his weapon before his
body crumpled into the dust. The others froze at the speed and skill with which
she had dispatched one of their own. In that timeless moment of inaction, René
and Abdul-Karim each killed two men of the nine left standing before the arch.
René looked up. More armed men ran toward the arch. He
paused and settled within, allowing his training to govern his actions. He
sensed more than saw Akeefa adjust her clothing.
She ripped the scarf from her face and stood in as wide a
stance as the burka allowed. She reversed the scimitar and jammed it between
her legs, slicing the thin material to the ground. Thus unencumbered, she
returned to the fight.
René nodded and on
cue they formed a circle, defending each other as well as dispatching those who
came against them. They narrowed the access lanes which caused their attackers
to fight each other to get at them.
“Move toward the arch,” said René.
There were too many swords slashing at them. Their progress
was slow. These men were not the highly trained Hashashin, but they were
experienced enough that their numbers would eventually prevail.
Although René had no desire to kill, this fight did not
grant him that moral luxury. He picked up a second sword and wielded both with
withering accuracy. The attackers who faced Akeefa died with an expression of
bewilderment.
Still, too many swords. Every moment reduced their chances.
Meet the Author:
Award winning novelist and international playwright Elliott
Baker grew up in Jacksonville, Florida. With four musicals and one play
published and produced in the United States, New Zealand, Portugal, England,
and Canada, Elliott is pleased to release his first novels. The Sun God’s Heir: Return, book one of
the trilogy, was released this past January, and book two, Rebirth will come out on April 18th, followed in July by
the third and final book of the series, Redemption.
A member of the Authors Guild and the Dramatists Guild, Elliott lives in New
Hampshire with his wife Sally Ann.
Grab Book 1, The Sun God’s Heir: Return, Book 1 on Amazon:
(P.S. - Book 1 is Free!)
http://amzn.to/2mklqLB
