Ben Stivers

Tribulation - Episode 1 of the Young Bornshire Chronicles Ben Stivers

Publisher Marketing: Renegade bishop, warrior priest, Arthur Bornshire surveyed the abandoned main street of Hellsgate with eyes as cold as the steel at his side. Pagan's Way was devoid of life, but alive with the mysteries of magic and death. Long before Arthur Bornshire assumed the mantle of protector of Christ's teachings, patrolling the streets of Hellsgate and clashing with the Apostles of the First Order, he was a boy. Born to parents who were priest and priestess of another faith, Arthur lived the normal life of a boy of his time-until destiny laid its hand upon him. The woodlands and forests of Britannia spread a backdrop for a canvas of a pure-blooded druid. Teachings of honor and duty, and most of all reverence made up his days. Then, quite suddenly those teachings are put to the test and young Arthur encounters his chance to be a defender of the week, saving the life of two total strangers from a ferocious bear. Into his life and then out again, a young girl, Cleola, dubs Arthur her hero, a moment and a promise that he never forgot. Life returns to normal and Arthur upon his path, but fate deals the brave lad a hard blow when Romans invade his village, Drybridge, butchering the major portion of the populace and violating his mother. It is during his own escape that Arthur comes face-to-face with The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse. From that day forward, his father, Daemon, leads them toward Rome to exact vengeance, hoping to steer his family out of harm's way while he sees his quest through. Meanwhile, on a large continent, not so far away, murder waits patiently in the dense shadows of the timeless woodland for another boy to kill his father. The Fellowship of tall oaks, white ash, even the younger catalpa had seen many things in their long lives, but in the earth, it cringed at what it knew must come. Contributor Bio:  Stivers, Ben Stivers is a poet and novelist.