In a land where the horrors of war are as common as snow and ice in winter...
Patrik, a newly-married young man, turns down the safety of small town life to help his uncle manage a road-side inn many miles away. But before he can learn even the basics of running an inn, the uncle suddenly dies. If he had stayed where he was born, Patrik could have become a successful hunter, fur trapper, or even a successful artist. So why did he leave the comforts of home?
Not long after the death of his uncle, Patrik's wife dies, leaving him to mourn her death while struggling to be a good father to their two young daughters. Where can he find the inner peace he feverishly desires?
Tamara, boisterous, beautiful but often cantankerous, has turned down every man who has offered to rescue her from the pitiful routine of The Lonely Fox inn. Who, if anyone, could ever capture her love?
Kristof, The Lonely Fox Inn's stable hand, has attempted to earn Tamara's affection since he first set eyes upon her but has suffered a lifetime of rejection in the few months he has been employed there. What can he do to somehow make her love him?
Betrovia... a land in disarray... a land in need of peace...
Excerpt:
"Good morning, beautiful Tamara! Did you bless us with this royal feast of a breakfast?" Kristof asked as he came into the dining room from the kitchen. Tamara didn't even look up.
"Did you close the back door?" The other way to enter the inn was through the south door that led into the kitchen. Kristof, nineteen years old, a few inches shorter than Patrik but taller than both girls, slipped off his coat, draped it over the back of his chair, and sat down next to Galena. "Well, did you close it?"
"Why yes, dear Tamara, the door is effectively shut. No bears, wolves or other wild creatures will be invading this domicile from that access point. However, Galena - from the look on her face - doesn't appear to believe me."
"Don't get me involved in this! I have to work with her all day. You can rile her up and then saunter outside to escape her wrath." The grin on her face revealed sarcasm. But Tamara still had not made eye contact with the young man. "Do you want me to get you anything from the kitchen? There's a bit more potatoes."
"No, no... unless Tamara wouldn't mind frying a few eggs for me?"
"Stop it! Just stop it. What are you so glib about today? Can't you see that breakfast has been prepared and served already. Stop being so rude and eat what's on the table!" The elder daughter looked up at him, her dark brown eyes framed by her glistening black eyebrows. She pointed at the half-full plate of food and motioned for him to help himself. Franck chuckled with amusement.
"Oh, what a riot, what a wonderful scene! Kristof, it never ceases to amaze me how quickly you can get her dander up. Do you practice this between my visits?"
The Land of Betrovia trilogy:
Betrovia (book one)
Lycentia: Harrak's Scrolls (book two)
Ahnak: Edelin's Revelation (book three)
