So much happens off stage in a novel, even a massive epic one. So here is what happened between the first book, Moon of the Goddess, and the second, just out, Before the new moon rises, back in the home city of Thalassai and Melanion.  

When his daughter was kidapped, King Gryneus of Tiryns sent his son Melanion and a fleet of ships to rescue her. He hoped and believed that one or the other would succeed. But they had gone into the distant north, and he had no way of knowing how that quest progressed. In the meantime, there are rumblings of trouble nearer home.

The chief counselor found Gryneus, king of Tiryns, on the roof of the palace gazing north. His face showed no emotion, but his shoulders showed the tension that had grown each day since the moon rose red.

“You have news for me?” the king asked.

“The spy you sent to Mycenae returned this morning. He reports that there are rumours of war in that city. Soldiers speak of battle as they drink in the inns, but they do not know where they will be sent.”

“So there is not as yet an army headed our way.” The king shook his head. “A good thing since neither my son nor the fleet has returned.”

“And there is no news of Thalassai.” The counselor frowned at the road that lead north to Corinth, to Mycenae and further, toward the city that held the princess captive. “Until Melanion rides back down that road, there is no way to know, unless you wish to ask the priests.”

“And waste a poor goat so they can slaughter it and pretend to read messages in the entrails.” The king clenched his hands. “I could send to Delphi for the oracle to speak, but that is half way to the city of the one who kidnapped my daughter. By the time such a messenger returned….” The king shrugged. “We can do nought but wait. And spy on our once friendly neighbours.”

“I offered a prayer at Athena’s temple last night, asking her to guard the princess.” The counselor hesitated. “There is one other thing I would advise. If you are right that in his desire for a port, king Atreus of Mycenae will eventually send an army upon us, we could gather food, begin to prepare for a siege.”

The king’s shoulders relaxed a little. There was a smile on his face when he turned to the counselor. “A task we can do. Order an inventory of the store houses. By tomorrow morning, I want to know what we need and where in our own lands we can find supplies to augment what we have stored.” He smiled slightly. “And find me an escort. I will visit the bronze smiths and see if we might turn out a few more swords and heads for spear and arrow. I will do more than just wait.”

Things are about to get very tense between Tiryns and Mycenai, but to learn about that you’ll have to read Before the New Moon rises. Available in paperback from me and Barnes and Noble, as an ebook directly from Prizm Books or from the usual Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Smashwords, and Google Books.