Showing results by author "Allan Batchelder" in All Categories

On the march, around the campfire, and in the taverns, they tell incredible stories about Tarmun Vykers, the Reaper - how he's never been cut in battle, how he once defeated hundreds of men by himself, how he exterminated an entire people over an insult. These stories make Vykers seem like a god, but he is a man, an arrogant, ruthless, and bloodthirsty man. For all that, he may be the only thing standing between the human race and utter annihilation at the hands of the mad wizard who calls himself the End-of-All-Things.

History tells us that William Shakespeare died in April of 1616. Or did he? What if the “William Kemp” who set sail from England for the New World in April of 1619 was actually the bard in disguise? How would he adjust to life in the Virginia Colony? How would he interact with the Powhatans? And what if he was forced to do battle with a monster out of legend? This is the story of Shakespeare’s second life.

Vykers once killed some of the Emperor’s soldiers; now, the Emperor has crossed the sea with all his legions to exact a revenge that will impact not only the Reaper, but Kittins, Spirk, Eoman, and even the Virgin Queen herself. Meanwhile, pieces to the puzzle of Vykers’ origins begin to fall into place, revealing people and purposes both unexpected and heretofore unimaginable.

Betrayed by his closest friend, someone who has also stolen his most precious possession, Tarmun Vykers wants revenge. Kittins wants revenge, too - against the all-powerful Queen, who’s been manipulating and dictating his every move for far too long, to devastating effect. Long Pete wants revenge against the slavers who murdered his wife and even now hold his only child captive. And many others too numerous to count want revenge, as well, for slights both real and imagined. One thing is certain: Punishment is coming.

Three years have passed since Tarmun Vykers’ victory over the mad sorcerer who called himself the End-of-All-Things. But they’ve been three long years confined to a sick bed with a grievous wound that will not heal, cannot be healed by any means known to man. And then, something unthinkable happens, and Vykers is summoned once again to save the kingdom.