Eric and Julia seek tree grafts on the outskirts of their medieval eastern European village as a summer storm gathers. Sullya, a witch hiding among the trees, grabs Julia. Eric swings his axe and severs Sullya’s hand from her arm. The witch seeks refuge in the deep bole of an old oak. Her hand falls onto the same oak and crawls up the trunk to join her.
Eric wants to flee but Julia, believing they’re safe thanks to the now heavy rain, torments the witch. Sullya curses them, their families, their crops, their livestock, and their village.
Soon crops wilt, livestock die, and much of village falls ill. The village priest, Father Baillot, seems ignorant of church ways and proves ineffective against the curse.
The village elders seek help elsewhere, specifically from a distant priest, Father Patreo, who knows the Old Ways as well as the New. Patreo is out of favor with the Church because he makes no effort to hide his belief that progress comes from exploring all paths, not just those the Church decrees acceptable.
He and Verduan, one of the village elders, investigate and encounter witchcraft, devil worship, murder, a coup d’etat, and the clashing of three great cultures. What they discover changes the face of Eastern Europe forever.
Reader Comments:
Carrabis writes another Hero’s Journey, this time with a faithful dog, a blind bear, and a deformed, mute child.
Riveting and captivating!
Carrabis’ sense of humor shines throughout. You can almost see him dropping breadcrumbs for the reader to follow. He’s playing a game of tag with the reader and is a master of the game.
Carrabis weaves another multi-character tapestry with interesting plot lines and dialogue you can hear.
Carrabis brings the Middle Ages to life.
Imagine your favorite professor telling you insider stories from Medieval Europe. That’s Carrabis’ Tag.
I want to ask Carrabis if he time-travels. Tag reads like an episode of “You Are There.” It’s more like something you’re living through than reading in a book.
I saw everything, I tasted the bread, I drank the ale, I worked the fields, I heard the bells, I tasted the mustard. Incredible!
Tag‘s Verduan and Patreo are the Middle Ages’ Holmes and Watson. Cadfael watch out!
As always, I’m thrilled my work is honored, appreciated, and published.