Tillendra of Morfino is the second book of a three novel arc in the medieval fantasy genre designed to be a little steamier, but not too steamy. Adult fun; the book is a light read designed for a mature audience who enjoys complex tales of intrigue, betrayal and lust in a medieval setting. Much of the book is designed to create that world, hopefully a world that entertains. Like most of my books, this book features strong women who drive the action through daring and cunning.
The story opens five years after the conclusion of the Northern Wars. The savages of the Norelian Forest, the Capterrans, and their shape shifting friends, the Primals, along with the Wiccan Kingdom of Brujo, have begun agitating against the King and Queen of Mercia. It is time for Lord Ashford of Andaluz to revisit the north to either formalize treaties, or return to war. He has married and honored his Norelian captives, and has children, and has been invited back to Morfino to meet and marry Witch-Queen Maldora's daughters, then to take the throne of Brujo.
The weddings planned for Baestra, those of Princess Sena, Princess Mariella and Princess Lisbet are called off as old intrigues and power grabs rise to the surface. His marriage in Bilbao was a disaster, and the southern kingdoms of Soria, the Vale and the southern mountains have suddenly blossomed into problems. Prince Ashford is negotiating with Witch-Queen Maldora of Morfino to visit, but is it a subterfuge to trap and murder him?
New characters enter the story, but many are not friendly either to Lord Ashford, or the King and Queen of Mercia. Betrayal is once again on the menu, as is palace intrigue and outright treason and rebellion. As the tale grows, so does the complexity, not only what can happen next, but what will happen next.
Is anything as it appears, and what of this simmering rebellion in the north? Ash embarks on a complicated and risky plan to out the traitors, assume the mantle of the north, and unite the kingdom according to the ancient prophecy. His childhood plans are dashed, but he plans to carry on, uniting the kingdom by force if necessary.
His planned ascension as the King of Greater Mercia is in doubt. Can he save Mercia? Can he save himself?
The legend grows as warlocks, witches, shapeshifters, avians, pagans and other races of beings join his crusade, but are they friend or foe? Each race, being, city and kingdom vies for power and wealth as the kingdom reforms and regroups, both welcoming and fearing the now most powerful man in Greater Mercia.
But he's only one man, and as he moves north with his new wife, Tillendra of Morfino, he realizes his women need to step up with their own new powers to assist him. Will they, or will they plot his demise?
Then, as things were still forming, Ash is told that the Issirian Horde is on the way to Mercia at the behest of the Primals. As religious fanatics, they will not be welcome in the kingdom, but so what? Their army numbers in the many hundreds of thousands, while Mercia cannot muster even a quarter of that.
Ash is confronted with betrayal by those closest to him.
He is ready to move north to Brujo and the warlock challenge, guided by Witch-Queen Maldora in Morfino. But first he will embark on a secret mission.
What's next?
