Nathaniel Caine Garnette—known in the desert as Caine Ali Hakira—a man disillusioned by the whims of his country and the practice of assassination, as well as his own unpardonable sins and a single, unforgiveable tragedy from his boyhood. Raised in the South by his scholarly father, Caine’s talent for languages and knowledge of foreign customs land him in the ranks of Thomas Lawrence, himself, before a two-year stint in the Holy Land undercover for the United States Department of Strategic Services. Here is a man who is not only accustomed to being alone, but expects it, as he feels he deserves it. However, due to his upbringing, the loyalty streak in him is a mile wide, and as a result, Caine’s very few friends are fiercely devoted to him. He has an affinity toward animals and children, despite the fact that he can lie into a man’s eyes without flinching and slit a throat without much more effort. Black hair and even darker eyes, inherited from his Scottish grandfather, enable him to blend into post-war Jerusalem to search for the young boy stolen from the murdered English consulate’s side, and to meet the destiny of Nathaniel Garnette as Caine Ali Hakira. And her name is…
Virgilia Wessex, a delightfully-scatterbrained, whimsically-romantic, and irredeemably-idealistic Englishwoman who leaves her noble fiancé to tutor children in the English quarter of Jerusalem. She is the most puzzling creature Caine has ever met. Fragile and resilient. Beautiful and unwanted and lost. Intelligent and silly with childlike faith in ideals which he has long abandoned. She speaks rapidly and becomes tongue-tied easily, for all that she is very British and understands the language well enough to appropriately assassinate it. She is near-sighted and open-minded and sleeps tightly-rolled up in her blankets to keep the mongoose out of her golden hair. Gillia is a woman determined to change the world, and dreams her prince awaits her somewhere in “God’s hometown.”
And she is the only lead Caine has to finding Samuel Ambrose.
And she is the only lead Caine has to finding Samuel Ambrose.
Kent Meridan—known also as Razul—Caine’s partner given up for dead, only to resurface as the leader of revolutionary terrorists. Beneath the passion for his cause and his bitterness toward the country which has abandoned him, is a man with loyalties just as impressive—and some of them for the man he had once called friend. However, between the proverbial rock and hard place, he knows he owes Caine for his life, even as he is expected to end Caine’s. Or his own will be forfeit.
Violently devoted to his cause, Abdullah is an Arab extremist who would be pleased to see to the task, personally.
Kasim and his family are longtime friends of Caine’s archaeologist father, and expert in espionage. Assuming the role of servant to Caine’s rich bearing, he accompanies him on his search for the late ambassador’s child, all the while searching for the girl he had loved as a boy--
Titianni, sold by her father as a young girl.
Gabriel Trydant, another southern gentleman, U.S. strategic officer, a recovered alcoholic with a low-burning, explosive temper, aeroplane pilot, and Caine’s first brother in Christ.
Virgilia’s god brother, Sandon Davenport, a barrister in London who would do anything despite his comically-delicate constitution to assure his beloved sister’s safety and happiness.
Samuel Ambrose, the child in question, who is captured with Virgilia when the radials storm the streets of Jerusalem. A lovely child with solemn eyes and a missing tooth.
Glenna Davenport, the shrewd matron who raised Virgilia after the tragedy which orphaned her, who strikes a deal with her to marry before her twenty-eighth year, despite her romantic sensibilities.
Caine’s devoted spitfire sister, Michal, and her Yankee lawyer husband, Zack—the only two in Caine’s life who love him regardless of his many sins against his own blood.
Gavin Hayes, Caine’s short-tempered superior in Washington, D.C., adamant that Caine abandon the foolish notion of rescuing the child.
And, of course, Trick, an incurable kleptomaniac, a brave warrior… and a mongoose. He is largely symbolic of the hope for peace in a war torn country.
DISCLAIMER:
Most photos on this website are not my property, but courtesy of Photobucket.
Most photos on this website are not my property, but courtesy of Photobucket.