Synopsis: Shards of Ourselves / The Gatekeeper

Life had not exactly been kind to General Calcifer Sescentae. For one, it simply wouldn’t pass.
Why this was he couldn’t remember. He wasn’t even sure if he had ever known in the first place, but the novelty must have worn off before long, because he couldn’t remember ever enjoying his longevity.
This only thing it had proven useful for was to prolong a profession as a soldier, which was just as well. Soldiering was in his blood, and he had long since given up on trying to be something else. He was good at what he did, and it wasn’t all that difficult either: you have a weapon, you know who your enemy is, and the only thing you need to do is kill him before he kills you.
Simplest job in the world. If only it wasn’t so damn closely related to politics...
Politics was where Calcifer’s life got complicated. Most significantly because when you hang around someplace for thirty years without visibly aging, people tend to notice. And then start asking questions. Nasty questions. And that usually meant moving out under the escort of torches and pitchforks.

Shards of Ourselves - Book I

After Marcus Dominus, Emperor of the Darian Empire, dies, politicians fall over each other claiming he died a natural death.
For Calcifer, who is commander of the Imperial Guard and thus personally responsible for the well being of the Imperial Family, that alone is reason enough to suspect something fishy is going on.

So, with one eye on his friend and ward, crown prince Aurelius, he tries to find out if he's just being paranoid again, or if there really is a conspiracy against the Imperial Family.
So far it's just another day on the job.

At least, if you ignore the strange symbol that appeared on the old emperor's deathbed in a cloud of sulphur and disappeared again before anyone else could see it...

Rationality prevails, until Aurelius barely escapes what seems to be an assasination attempt and starts acting out of character. At first Calcifer believes the usually timid crown prince has finally decided to face up to his task as Emperor of the largest empire in human history, but before long he finds out there is more to this than meets the eye. Wings, for starters.

Before he can begin to grasp what the hell is going on, Calcifer finds himself at the centre of a conflict of paranormal proportions, facing an enemy that makes the politicians of Vittoria seem frighteningly mundane.

After all, it's not every day that you find out you're a fallen angel.

The Gatekeeper - Book II

Coming soon...