The Archangel Chronicles

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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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Axia and her brothers gather the commanders of the Scythian warriors for a council of war. The Massagetae host is organized into companies and divisions. The whole camp feverishly prepares for the coming battle. Scarus comes up with a plan to deal with the enemy war elephants. The sacred fires are lit, and companies of scouts are set out to disrupt the approaching enemy army. With wind and fire, the enemy is checked, and prisoners are brought forward. Axia gives the captives a message to take back to the enemy. But the army of Artaxes and his Parthian allies doubles down, intent on destroying Axia and her people. The Massagetae host sets off for battle, led by Zephyria. A desperate battle unfolds. The Scythian host flows around the enemy like water around boulders. At a critical point, , Scarus’ counter-measures bear fruit and the enemy is thrown into confusion.  The Lord of Slaughter reveals himself as the Massagetae wreak their terrible vengeance, but his presence is interrupted by a sign from the angels. Adam finds that he must save Axia yet again.

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Abu takes up the narrative. His Eagle Master Aduthuma, Abu’s eagle Zephyria and Abu begin their long journey back to the Massagetae camp to join the great hunt, or Nerge. They travel at night along the edges of the steppes, sticking to high places, avoiding towns and cities along the way.  Abu’s attachment to Zephyria grows, and he can see through her eyes while in a trance as Zephyria hunts and guides them forward. One day, they discern a cloud of dust in the distance, and Zephyria is sent to find out the cause. Abu, seeing through Zephyria’s eyes, discovers  a menace coming from an unexpected place.  They race home to warn the Queen of what they have found.

Meanwhile, Adam resumes his narrative and about the great hunt, which mobilizes the entire Massagetae nation, including men, women and beasts. But they are all unaware of the approaching danger.  Axia takes up her place at the head of the hunt, with Arsalion, her champion, at her side.  A great beast is spotted, and Axia resolves to be the first to slay it. She is lured to a place of danger, where two deadly perils await her and her champion. Abu and Zephyria arrive to warn of the unfolding danger. Adam is required to once again apply his healing skills. The Massagetae host prepares for battle.

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Adam takes up the narrative again. Abu has gone with his new mentor, the Master of the Eagles far away from the Massagetae camp. Adam is lonely, and feeling Abu’s absence, so he keeps himself busy. Queen Axia is determined to wed Adam, and he is running out of excuses, so he plots with Theron and Scarus to press  the Roxolani (Sarmatian) Prince Arsalion to pursue a match with the Queen. Theron is enthusiastic, and he enlists the Queen’s brothers to help him propose a grand tournament of the three manly sports, wrestling, horse archery and horse racing to the Queen. She is interested and intrigued that Arsalion is pursuing her. But the matchmakers begin to worry that they may have bitten off more than they can chew when it becomes clear that their champion is in need of training. Time is short to get Arsalion ready for the challenges that he will face in the tournament. Will he prevail and attract the Queen’s admiration?

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Abubakar tells us his tearful parting from Adam, his first mentor.  He discovers the mystical threads that binds him to the eagles and  Aduthuma, the Master of the Eales takes him on as his apprentice.  Together they take a long journey to the Sacred Mountains, where Aduthuma begins to pass his knowledge on to Abu. He learns to hunt with the Eagles, and comes to understand the love and respect that must be given to them, and all creatures.  Abu learns a valuable lesson when the day comes for Zephros to be taken to the Sacred Mountain and be set free. Sorrow gives way to joy when he finds a new eagle to train. Time passes swiftly, but one day a summons comes from the Scythian Queen.

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The eastward migration of the Massagetae continues, until, late into the waning summer, and cool nights, a place for a winter camp is chosen where the ancient Oxus River, now known as the Amu Darya, reaches the Aral Sea.  Adam is visited again by Raphael of the Gray Eyes, who tells him that a solution to his dilemma with the Scythian Queen may present itself. Adam learns from Arsalion, Prince of the Roxolani, that mythical heroic epics about Adam’s exploits are being sung amongst the people. Adam sees an opportunity to play the secret matchmaker.  A great feast is declared, and Abu is called to chose his destiny, but he has to give up the possessions  of his childhood first.

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After turning the tables on Thraxsus and his cutthroat band of gladiators and thieves, it is time for a feast. The Queen is at the head of an ever growing host of warriors.  It is time to dispense justice to the Thraxsus’ remaining followers, but justice is harsh on the steppes.   The great migration of Axia and her people continues, and the host grows more day by day, until they come to the great river Volga, and must cross it to enter the heartland of the Massagetae.  Theron appears out of the mists with the means, and Scarus devises a method  to cross the waters of the Volga  as if on dry land, delivering the tribesmen, women, children  and their livestock to their promised land. Axia and her people are joined by a powerful ally, who delivers the preserved body of her father, the great King Bartatua, back to his people.

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Axia’s party, slowed down by the Scythian treasure wagons, have attracted a lot of unwanted attention passing through the farthest reaches of the Empire after leaving Baku. They are warned by the commander of the cohort guarding the Gates of Alexander, the last outpost of civilization, but do not heed his advice. The party presses on, but many of the Scythian horsemen have melted away, leaving the Queen’s party and her treasure waggons guarded only by the dubious Thraxsus and his gladiators. Scarus senses the coming confrontation. Preparations are made. Now isolated out on the steppes, the Queen and her party are abandoned and then ambushed by Thraxsus and his men.  Thraxsus  has plans for the treasure and cruel designs on the Queen. In the ensuing struggle,  an unexpected hero comes forth and turns the tables on Thraxsus.

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Adam, Abu and Scarus are now placed in the custody of Axia, Queen of the Red Scythians, and they begin a relentless journey on horseback with her warband across the Eastern Empire, headed for Baku, on the shores of the Caspian Sea, the empire’s farthest outpost.  The band meets up again on the shores of the Black Sea with Theron, who has recruited a dubious band of former gladiators to guard the wagons bearing the Queen’s treasure.  Scarus, Adam and Abu are suspicious of the gladiators, and their leader, Thraxus, and warn Theron and the Queen that they may be dangerous. Adam formulates a plan to bring matters to a head when they get to Baku. 

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Our story now moves a land far away from the civilized cities of Roman AEgypt, out onto the vast  Steppes of Central Asia,  where a party gathers on a vast Scythian burial ground. A mysterious winged being makes it presence known. Adams companions are alarmed by strange lights in the sky, but Adam has seen them before.  Adam recalls events of the last several years, when he was kidnapped from the comfort of his home in Alexandria, and spirited away from his life with Sophia.  Adam finds that he was betrayed by those close to him, but there is a reconning with his captor, who discloses the conspiracy. Adam is delivered against his will into the power of the Scythian Queen and swept away to the farthest corners of the ancient civilized world.

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