Crusade, Book 4 of The Turner Chronicles

Brenda Montpass mostly explains herself to Armand and Faith, the reason she is interested in Aaron and why she has the steel balls, and even about murdering her husband. Armand is hoist on his own petard in regards to flirting with other women, or worse, giving Faith a thoughly strong hand in their verbal sparing. Lioth is now completely disillusioned with war and with Han Chuk, her one time idol. Her feelings for Delmac grow, and ...

Defying, well, everybody, Amanda enters the cave, drawing Aaron's anger. However, she brought a bunch of interesting rocks out with her, one's very important to Chin, and the world. These rocks are not Talent Stones, exactly. Instead, they interact with male Talent in a strange way. Too much can kill them, but a little provides a miracle in this male starved world. It provides men with the chance to create healthy male children...b...

Aaron changes his mind on asking Martha Hines, the assassin, a favor. He was going to have her kill Clack but decided assassination is wrong. Martha is disgusted, pointing out that not killing Clack could mean thousands of lives.  Missy and Kim have both thrown away their Talent Stones so they can be closer to the One God. Missy and Aaron have a long talk, again. In the morning Aaron meets with a representative from Nefra who basic...

Depressed by his generalship, Ard Chuk thinks he is about to be demoted by Aaron. Instead, Aaron orders him to bring all Aaron's troops to New Beginning. Delmac and Lioth's relationship grows deeper as they reflect on their own shortcomings on an evening, bringing them to a realization of their love. Delmac's sleep is interrupted by Lioth's hand on his shoulder, followed by Lioth ghosting into the woods. She soon arrows some intrud...

Lioth watches from a distance while Prophet preaches. Armand and Faith are hard pressed not to become true believers due to Prophet's Talent. After, in private, Prophet questions his most fervent followers, some of whom had once been main conspiritors, most of which group is now dead, maimed (Leo Khante), or fled. He expounds on his plans to soon rule several kingdoms. Meanwhile, out with the milling crowd of crusaders, Brenda Mont...

Despising his weak leadership, Aaron flees to N'Ark where he gets drunk in a bar and is badly beaten in a fight he chose. Gravely damaged, his hand a crippled claw, he wakes in a hospital where his real faults and strengths are explained to him by Karen Dandlege, by his son Chase, and by his personal psychologist, Felicity Stromburg. Through this Aaron realizes his problem is that he cares too much, if there is such a thing. He lov...

Sad times after the debacle. Aaron sits with his war council and accepts all blame for the failure when he is attacked by them. Missy attacks back, showing how the council members had ignored their responsibilities. Arguments ensue, ending when Missy admits to emptying all their bank accounts after realizing they were putting more money in than Aaron paid them. Most of the council are in Clack's pocket. A fight occurs where one unb...

Sammual Aybarra and Laura Bainridge are killed when Clack's people raid. A terrible mistake because Aybarra's camp is sacred due to the Ferbog. Penance must be paid...the killer's entire tribe must leave the war after the murderer is killed. Delmac joins a war party two thousand strong, guided by a young girl who claims she saw enemy troops only three days march away. Riding runabouts for speed, Delmac leads with the young lass sit...

Autumn gets struck by a warning vision, but she is too late to save Aiden Franks from the cave. Heralda arrives in New Beginning, looking too old and worn for her young age. Even with the One God, she cannot save Franks. Roger Lindsey, Melna's father, arrives in New Beginning along with a bunch of wagons, all carrying barrels of something he's afraid to think of. Armand and Faith are caught up in the crusade, set too far to the rea...

Encamped with Clack's forces, Lioth shudders while thinking on her curse of being a wild Talent, someone with many abilities who will inevitably go mad. She is also beginning to doubt her awe of Han Chuk and her fascination with war. In Nefra, while enjoying her morning screams and eyeing her favorite abused slave, Maldane, Nefra's Tyrant receives a visit from the Master of the Assassin's Guild. After explaining to him that she is ...

Aaron and friends visit a Chin encampment where they introduce modified runabouts for their use. Reports come in about Clack's forces. Later one Kim interrupts Aaron and Missy's intimate moment, begging Aaron to speak to her of the One God. Reluctant, not knowing what to say, Aaron is overcome when Zisst's body suddenly merges with Aaron's, becoming a part of him. Without knowing, Aaron begins to speak of the One God, being heard b...

Aaron explores the matter of his new  guns. Kim gives her report. Transportation comes up once more with the war council and Melna asks one of her dumb-brilliant questions, making Aaron feel stupid for not thinking of her solution first.  Later, Kim follows Aaron while he explains his university to her.  More specifically, he explains why he is putting in something called a sprinkler system to keep the grass green. Then we go back ...

We are back with Armand and Faith Crowley, traveling the seas to Halimut, where they plan on inserting themselves into the crusade. After getting off the ship (for which experience Faith plans foul revenge on her husband) They encounter Brenda Montpass yet again. When flirting with her Armand confesses to having seen both her and Roger Khante on the ship with them. Brenda tells Armad she is a liar and a spy...and gives him interest...

Now with the Chins, Aaron discovers they were waiting for him so they could begin following the herds, although he is confused by the sight of a number of men and women being hauled around on travios due to something called a Ferbog...which turns out to be a milk drinking-get as fat as you can-contest with great honor attached. Matters proceed as expected, Delmac settling in while Laura Bainridge continues being strange. Then a new...

After a runabout race Aaron and the archeologists, along with Delmac, go to the cave sight where Aaron gets a rundown on their findings, both disappointing and interesting. Delmac is amused by these new concepts, but disdainful of Laura Bainridge and her strange ways. Later, Aaron inspects the underground utility tunnels beneath New Beginning and explains why he wants to provide running water. At Aaron's urging, his foreman, Halifa...

An angry Clack learns of the raid from a very young scout named Lioth. He sends Han Chuck after the warband with orders to bring back at least half their heads. For his part, Han is very willing because one of his wives is among the dead. Lead by Lioth, they give chase, only to encounter one dangerous trap after another. Han watches Lioth carefully and is greatly impressed by her physical and mental skills, but he is frustrated by ...

For the first time we meet the prophet who calls for a crusade against Aaron Turner, discovering both his motives and those who are pushing him forward. Already, small cracks apper in the conspiracy as the prophet's reliability comes into question. Meanwhile, back in Nefra, Maldane, Nefra's Tyrant, plots against Aaron, while being served by her new and much abused slave. She rails against failed assassins and questions the motives ...