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The mysterious monk now tells the story of the green-eyed Loukia, child of light and descendant of daughters of ancient Greek kings in the far east. The travellers are captivated by her tragic tale. It begins with the fate of the cities built by Alexander centuries before in Bactria, Gandhara, and at the very steps of the Hindu Kush. These Greek cities fall one by one to the Yuezhi, nomads from the east, who establish a new empire, the Kushan, under their warlord, Heraeus. This tyrant takes an interest in Loukia, and has separated her from her mother, Kaliope., ill-fated Queen of one of the last Greek cities, Alexandria Eschate.  When that city falls, Loukia becomes an entertainer, enchanting the women of the Kushan court with her songs and beauty. Heraeus succumbs to a mysterious illness and descends into madness. As he becomes weaker, only Loukia can relieve his suffering with her sweet voice and innocent ways. Heraeus, obsessed with the thought of oblivion, has his son Kujula Kadphisis, swear a dark oath that will doom Loukia to an unspeakable fate. She looks to Targitus to rescue her from the darkness.

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Our narrative shifts back again to Adam. Axia, Arsalion and their party together with Adam, Scarus and Targitus, Master of Eagles, depart from the Massagetae, leaving her brothers Protothyes and Skumaxa as co-regents of the nation. At first the party is guided by a pillar of light from the Archangels, and travels down a mighty river. But the light of the angels fades as they travel through strange and unknown lands far to the east and south.  A council is held to discuss their situation. A plan is worked out. Theron, Adam, and Scarus leave the main party behind to find a way, guided by Targitus and his eagle.  The travellers hook up with a caravan travelling to Bukhara, stronghold of a tyrant who styles himself as the first overlord of the Kushans. They cross paths with a warrior, Hareth, a monk, and a girl. This strange and mysterious girl, a ward of the monk, forms a bond with Targitus. A bargain is struck with these strangers to guide Axia's party through the mountain passes of the Hindu Kush to Taxila. But first, they must contend with the mysterious history of this girl and learn that the Kushans are searching for her. 

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The Great King Gondophares, the philosophia, and the rest of the  party return to the palace. On the way, the great transformation of the Monsoons transforms the land. But, before the rains return, the Romans and the Indo-Parthian army must make plans. Forces are put into motion, and the new roman fleet and Gondophares’ army sweep down upon the enemy.

  Gondophares and the Indo-Parthians now find themselves at peace after generations of war. He is restless and searches for a new purpose, his thoughts turning to Sophia. The allies are stricken with bad news amid their celebration.  

 The trade fleet arrives, and prosperity flows like a river into the realm. But new laws must be made to manage the peace and the trade that comes with it. Plans are made for the Great King and his allies to go up the Indus to the Royal City of Minnagara. Gondophares looks to fulfil his promise to take the philosophia and her guardian  to the Royal Capital of Taxila at the foot of the Hindu Kush mountains, but before they can leave, old friends appear, and Sophia receives news of Adam.

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The narrative now shifts to Gondophares, also known as Gaspar, the Indo-Parthian King of Kings, powerful overlord of all the mighty, rich and populous lands of the great river Indus, stretching from the shores of the Erythrean Sea to the Hindu Kush. While mounting a siege of the great port city of Barbaricum, he has a strange dream, that he is stalking in the forest in the body of a tiger. He sees a strange light, but awakes to the surprising news that Azes, a petty rebel king, has abandoned the city and left it defenceless. Envoys come to him, begging for mercy, and tell him of the appearance of a strange fleet of sailing ships, who forced their way into the harbour. Gondophares sends for these strangers and discovers their commander, Honourius, is an old friend. The Great King, for all his power, is beguiled by the beautiful philosophia from Alexandria, and offers to help her with her two quests, but first the rebels and pirate fleet must be dealt with. Plans are made for an alliance to destroy the returning pirate fleet at a time and place of the allies choosing.

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The 10-ship roman trade fleet has crossed the Indian Ocean and approaches the end of its journey to the lands of the Indus. But little is known about the port city of Barbaricum, and what awaits them there. With all the uncertainty, plans are set in motion to deal with the expected danger of a pirate fleet. Honourius’ fears are well founded as the merchant ships encounter a squadron of hostile war galleys. His plans are executed with devastating results, as the 10 trade ships safely anchor in the harbour. Sophia confronts Honorius with the truth about her mother. But their tender words of reconciliation as father and daughter are interrupted by signs of a new danger emerging from the port city itself.

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Camilla, Sophia’s guardian, the retired Vestalis Maxima, , takes up the narrative. While preparations for the voyage of the departing Roman fleet for India are reaching their conclusion, Sophia grieves the absence of Adam. Honourius deflects her questions, accuses Adam and Scarus of running off with the Scythian Queen, and counsels her to forget about them. The expedition departs and Sophia turns to Camilla for comfort. Now that the voyage has begun, Camilla is no longer bound by her oath of secrecy. She tells Sophia about her past, and the tragic story of her mother, Tullia. 

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The epilogue to Archangel Chronicles I ended the first part of the saga with a mystery: a strange hermit, in a desert monastery high up a mountainside,  where an Archaeologist, Havelock, and his assistant, Hassan have come to find answers. 

Archangel Chronicles II begins with another mystery, on another mountain shrouded in legends. Havelock pursues his quest to discern the story of the strange hermit through the centuries by finding the scrolls where it has all been written down. But who is the lady in the tomb?

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I thought I would take a few minutes to explain where this story came from before continuing with Archangel Chronicles II Triumph of Innocence. There is a lot more adventures coming as we unroll the next part of the saga. The podcast is such an intimate medium. This story comes directly from me to you, dear listeners, wherever in the world you may be. No ancient bard ever had such access one on one on such an intimate level. I hope this story has meaning for you.  Text me on fan mail at buzzsprout.com or send me an email at: [email protected]

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Book One of the Archangel Chronicles ends where it began, in what seems like a prison at the top of a mountain. But is it really a prison, or a place of safety and strength?  Some travellers are urgently seeking the man in this place, in a desert wasteland. But is it really a wasteland, or a place where one story ends and others have yet to be told?

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Axia is brought back to the Massagetae camp, her wound festering, and in grave condition. She is surrounded by her priestesses, who kneel around her, chanting day and night and offering sacrifices. Arsalion never leaves Axia’s side. Adam realizes  that he is helpless to stem the tide of her infection. While Axia and her brothers have taken their revenge on Artaxes, there is no joy in it. After some days, Axia regains enough strength to summons her people to raise a great burial mound, a Kurgan in which to bury her father the great King Bartatua, and the slain warriors of the Massagetae host. But she intends to be interred there with her father, over the protests of Arsalion and her brothers. As her condition worsens, and Axia slips to the edge of death, despair and mourning descend.  The Kurgan is built in 40 days, and the great King’s body and those of his warriors are prepared for burial and processed through the clans and tribes. But at the darkest time, there is hope. A new quest emerges.

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