In the shadows of crusades and collapsing empires, a secret order rises.
In 1319, Europe stands at the crossroads of faith, power, and betrayal. The great Crusades have faded, but the wars have not. Kings battle sons. Popes scheme against monarchs. Assassins move in silence beneath cathedral spires.
When Daniel de Valois—Templar knight and rumored ghost of the battlefield—returns from death, he brings with him knowledge drawn from the darkest corners of the world. From the shadow soldiers of the Great Khan to the deadly arts of the Fedayeen, Daniel has mastered the science of protection… and assassination.
Now, alongside his lifelong ally Baltasar Rocha, he forges a clandestine brotherhood: The Order of the Red Coral—a sect sworn to shield Europe’s rulers from poison, treachery, and unseen blades. Their symbol is a coral pendant of blood and protection. Their mission is simple: stand closest when violence comes.
But Pope John XXII has other plans.
In Avignon, the Pope unleashes his executioner and a former Templar turned master assassin to eliminate King Denis of Portugal. Their weapon: an explosive new force known as black powder. Their battleground: the streets and bridges of Lisbon.
As rebellion brews and war looms, Daniel must outwit enemies who hide behind faith, politics, and righteous fury. Every choice carries consequence. Every shadow may conceal death.
1319 AD – Beginning is a gripping historical thriller that blends real medieval power struggles with secret intelligence networks, cutting-edge weaponry of the age, and the birth of an order that will shape the fate of Europe for generations.
For readers who love high-stakes intrigue, clandestine brotherhoods, and the relentless chess match between protector and assassin, this is where the legend of the Red Coral begins.
In 1319, Europe stands at the crossroads of faith, power, and betrayal. The great Crusades have faded, but the wars have not. Kings battle sons. Popes scheme against monarchs. Assassins move in silence beneath cathedral spires.
When Daniel de Valois—Templar knight and rumored ghost of the battlefield—returns from death, he brings with him knowledge drawn from the darkest corners of the world. From the shadow soldiers of the Great Khan to the deadly arts of the Fedayeen, Daniel has mastered the science of protection… and assassination.
Now, alongside his lifelong ally Baltasar Rocha, he forges a clandestine brotherhood: The Order of the Red Coral—a sect sworn to shield Europe’s rulers from poison, treachery, and unseen blades. Their symbol is a coral pendant of blood and protection. Their mission is simple: stand closest when violence comes.
But Pope John XXII has other plans.
In Avignon, the Pope unleashes his executioner and a former Templar turned master assassin to eliminate King Denis of Portugal. Their weapon: an explosive new force known as black powder. Their battleground: the streets and bridges of Lisbon.
As rebellion brews and war looms, Daniel must outwit enemies who hide behind faith, politics, and righteous fury. Every choice carries consequence. Every shadow may conceal death.
1319 AD – Beginning is a gripping historical thriller that blends real medieval power struggles with secret intelligence networks, cutting-edge weaponry of the age, and the birth of an order that will shape the fate of Europe for generations.
For readers who love high-stakes intrigue, clandestine brotherhoods, and the relentless chess match between protector and assassin, this is where the legend of the Red Coral begins.
Used availability for Steve Stratton's Order of the Red Coral Story