

Ben Blake

For a thousand years, the scholars of As-alam have talked to the Sea-Goats in the nearby lagoon. The Sea-Goats have a lot of secrets. Scholars, like Mani, try to tease knowledge from them.
For the same thousand years, the priestesses of As-alam have known one of those secrets, and hidden it. When Mani marries Isha, instead of an acolyte meant to control him, they show they will murder to keep their power intact. To keep Isha safe, Mani brings her to the lagoon, and his relationship with the Sea-Goats changes forever.
The Mad King Sarru-kin knows another of the Sea-Goats secrets - they hold the key to immortality - and he wishes to become a god. He begins to conquer his way across the plain of Engiru, to reach As-alam and force Mani to take him to the Sea-Goats home island. If he succeeds, his terror will last forever.
Mani is a clever man, but will wits be enough to stop Sarru-kin becoming a god?

Praise for Ben Blake
This is a wonderfully engaging story that if anything has too many interesting characters. I want to hear more about each of them,
(JohnnyB)
What a great ability to define such nature and character within a story with mere words.
(Jennifer Elizabeth Hyndman)
Mr Blake has a great understanding of culture; how to weave it into a story, how characters understand themselves within it... I really would like to see a sequel.
(C. Sheehan)
A beautifully crafted tale, full of action well told by a great storyteller.
(Avid reader)
