Vonalt: Blog

The next chapter is ready to be published.

No one thought it would happen, but an agreement is struck between the papacy and the imperial crown of the Holy Roman Empire. To seal the fragile alliance, Imperial Knight Johannes Braun is wed to Apollonia Frangipani, niece of the head of one of Rome’s most powerful families and a staunch supporter of Pope Adrian IV.

What begins as a symbol of unity quickly turns fragile. Rome resents the alliance, and unrest brews beneath the surface.

For Johannes, the conflict becomes personal. Apollonia has never been denied anything in her life, and she expects the same in marriage. Her demands grow increasingly difficult to meet, threatening both his standing and the empire’s delicate diplomacy.

Bound by duty and trapped in a collapsing union, Johannes must choose what he will sacrifice: his honor, his loyalty, or his marriage.

Chapter Seven is in the queue.

Reichsritter Johannes attends his first formal banquet in Rome at the Frangipani estate without his king at his side. Tasked with representing both himself and the Holy Roman Empire, he matches wits with the family's patriarch and wins the admiration of the niece destined to become his betrothed in a powerful new alliance.

Yet beneath his confident exterior lies a troubling doubt. Young and inexperienced, Johannes fears he is unworthy of the responsibility placed upon his shoulders. As uncertainty threatens to undermine him, his king and his new allies in the Frangipani family must help him discover the strength he cannot yet see in himself.

It is the 12th century, and the Holy Roman Empire stands on the edge of turmoil. Frederick of Hohenstaufen, newly elected King of the Romans and destined to become Emperor, rides toward Rome beneath the weight of growing unrest. Powerful voices within the Church denounce the rise of a secular ruler, while whispers of assassination follow the king across every road and castle hall.
When Frederick’s royal party stops at Trier Castle, he expects only rest and counsel from the Archbishop of Trier. Instead, he is drawn into the trial of a young squire accused of defying the Church itself.
Johannes Braun refused an unthinkable order: to burn an elderly woman condemned as a witch by fearful villagers and a fanatical monk. For his defiance, he is stripped of honor and sentenced to spend the rest of his life imprisoned within the Abbey of Tholey.
But Frederick sees something others do not—courage. Against the will of powerful men, the king intervenes and takes Johannes under his protection. That single act sets into motion a chain of events that will test loyalty, faith, and the very authority of crown and Church.

David is tired of running and wants to come home and be with those who care about him. His time out in the desert has toughened the once-soft East Coast college math teacher. Running is no longer an option, and now he is ready to face his fears. David has an adopted family and his California beach girl to support him. Facing Ramos is no longer as frightening as it once was, knowing he has others to back his play.

Chapter Eleven is ready to be posted. David continues his efforts to frustrate the FBI and the Ramos cartel as they try to box him in. Just when they think they have him contained, he finds a way to slip out, leaving them empty handed. He even relaxes at a touristy beach and enjoys himself before disappearing down the rabbit hole and moving to his next location.