Fire Of The Devil

About the Book

      After nine months at war against Druex, Callum Dwyer returns to his home burdened with a rumor he feared true. His father, Malcolm Dwyer, was companion at arms for the reigning Lord of Kandel, Ian McShane, and both he and his father had lived in the McShane’s household since his mother died giving him birth.
     He grew up alongside McShane’s daughter Moira, and loved her mother Margaret, adopting her in his heart as his own. In their early teens, invaders attacked the household, and in the melee, Margaret was killed. Callum’s rage over this stayed with him, and vowed to avenge her death. Now he returns, with a tale overheard while camped on the battlefield that changes the truth he’d been told about what took place that fateful night.
     Returning on the day of the celebrated Festival of Spring, Callum joined his father, Lord Ian McShane and Lady Moira McShane in the festivities. It had always been taken for granted that Callum and Moira would marry, having grown up side by side. Even though this was Callum’s intent, Moira had other thoughts. The events of the day were winding down, and no sooner had the bonfire been lit, when a scream echoed through village - Ian McShane had been stabbed. A pursuit for the assailant, resulted in turning up another body, but Malcolm Dwyer didn’t want the find revealed, and swore his men to secrecy.
     This along with what he’d heard at war, tore at Callum’s sense of honor, and finally pushed him into confronting his father and McShane with the truth. What resulted was banishment from his home, and worse, in his eyes, the scorn and rejection of the woman he loved. Stunned by how the supposed truth had turned the tables on him, he left, not quite knowing where he headed, but instinctively feeling the entire truth had not been revealed.
     He re-united with friends who had fought with him in the recent war, and learned that the land grants promised by Breshnau, Lord of Winsloy to all nobles who fought against Druex, were now being nullified. Not having a home to go to, Callum joined forces with the other nobles to retrieve what they believed was rightfully theirs. It became a mutual agreement with everyone involved that Breshnau should be killed. Plans were set for the murder, but only when Callum realized that it was to take place at Breshnau’s wedding to Lady Moira McShane did he agree to be the one to do the deed.
     The night before the wedding Callum and his friends returned to Kandel to prepare for the following day. He sat by the fire in the great hall, drifting in and out of sleep, when suddenly he awoke to be faced with a ghostly apparition. Although not the first time, this time was different – it had a face.
     On the day of the wedding, Callum, his father, and the other nobles entered Winsloy with a plan only they knew of. The events of the day, not only would result in the death of Breshnau, but would also reveal a truth to all of Winsloy and Kandel that had been hidden for many years. A truth that would not only give Callum an explanation, but more of everything he had ever dreamed of.

About the Author

Anna is an interior designer who lives in Ontario with her two sons who are presently attending university. She has written several how-to books, and many short stories, along with collaborating with another author in producing a fantasy novel, and participating in an on-line publication.