The Knight with Two Swords

This exceptional Arthurian epic from Erdelac (Merkabah Rider)—a tale of honor, faith, and bitter betrayal—is rich in period detail, intricate plots, and breathless swordplay. The story centers on twin brother knights who take divergent paths. Balin “the Savage,” a Christian, swears fealty to the boy king Arthur, while Brulen “the Sinister,” a pagan, joins Arthur’s enemy, Sir Lot of Orkney. Balin’s accidental killing of an arrogant knight sets in motion a complex scheme by the knight’s pagan paramour and sorceress, Nimue, to bring down both Balin and Arthur. Nimue tricks Balin into accepting the cursed Adventurous Sword, which guarantees that every victory will be followed by an equal failure. The first of these failures is Balin’s rage-killing of Arthur’s benefactor, the Lady of the Lake. To atone, Balin embarks on a series of quests, reunites with Brulen, and defends Arthur’s fiancée, Guinevere, all under the watchful eye of Arthur’s shape-shifting mage, Merlin. Readers will become engrossed in the political alliances, fierce fighting, magical antics, and dark secrets of this unusual take on Arthurian legend. (BookLife)