The Prince's Ascent

The Trojan War is in its eighth year. Sarpedon King of Lykia and Troy's greatest ally leads its defense as Priam, the King, is too old to fight and his eldest son Hektor too young and inexperienced. Together the brave Sarpedon and the wily Priam have forged a motley alliance of neighboring kings and tribes into an army capable of holding its own against the overwhelming might of Agamemnon's armada. The result is stalemate. With no end in sight the Trojan people grow weary and a peace party led by Antenor, a Trojan Elder and Priam's rival for the throne, is gaining support. Hektor, grown confident in his abilities and seeking to cement his position as heir apparent, yearns to break the impasse and in so doing prove himself. The City's defense, for so long precariously balanced on the combined skills of Priam and Sarpedon, is in jeopardy.

Sarpedon's youngest son Adrestos has come of age and joined the fight. A youth of seventeen, in his first battle he rescues Anteia, the younger sister of Hektor's wife Andromache, and falls hopelessly in love. Andromache has yet to bear Hektor an heir, providing Hektor's mother Hekabe added incentive for her scheme to break their marriage. All the while and without their knowledge Agamemnon High King of Mycenae is secretly implementing a new strategy to bring the City to its knees.

This is a gritty novel of palace intrigue and betrayal, heroism, camaraderie, unexpected alliances and love. It is also a novel set at the very dawn of civilization, unexplored and full of mystery.