Burdens of the Dead

In an alternate 16th century where magic is still is part of life, the Holy Roman Empire rules Europe. Constantinople is under siege by the Venetians and their allies. The great city is the crossroads of east and west, and it is here that the power of Hekate, the Weeping Woman, Goddess of Crossroads, is at its greatest. Italian captain Benito Valdosta must deal with her deadly magic in order to destroy the fleets of the Chernobog assembling in the Black Sea before they can cut into the soft underbelly of Europe. Then, in the midst of this struggle, Benito discovers that his infant daughter has been abducted by agents of Venice's most resolute enemy, Duke Visconti of Milan. He must set off to her rescue, knowing that he will surely face his own father to do so - for Italy's greatest condottiere, the Wolf of the North Carlo Sforza, is in command of the evil duke's armies.With land battles, naval action, assassinations, and heartbreak aplenty - not to mention the ongoing conflict between the Lord of the Dead and Benito for the love of a woman - civilization is at the crossroads. Choices must be made that will bring victory and freedom for centuries to come - or plunge the world into a new dark age.