King Arthur: The Bloody Cup
The Epic Tale of Arthur: High King of the Britons.
For many years, the people of Britain have enjoyed peace and prosperity under the reign of King Artor and the Union of Kings. Having spurned the despotism of his predecessor, Uther Pendragon, Artor has ruled with a strong sense of duty, goodness and honour.
However, Artor is now weakening with age and the seeds of discontent have been sown. Seeking to cleanse the land of Christian beliefs, dissenters need a symbol with which to legitimise their pagan claim and gather malcontents together into a cohesive weapon. These shadowy, subversive elements seize upon the ancient cup of Bishop Lucius of Glastonbury as a way of fragmenting Artor’s hard-fought-for kingdom. But first, they must lay their hands on the relic and, in doing so, unleash a force for evil from which murder and violent mayhem ensue.
Having killed Bishop Lucius, the harbingers of evil escape with The Cup into Northern Britain where they initiate their rebellion againsgt the rule of Arthur.
Arthur is forced to send his trusted servants Bedwyr, Galahad and Percivale on a quest to recover the Grail Cup. Rumour and speculation is rife in the Celtic lands.
However it soon emerges that the ultimate threat to Artor’s rule lies far closer to home; Artor is betrayed by kin. Celt will slay Celt and the rivers will eventually run with blood.
Will the legend of Britain survive?
‘Kingdoms are rarely lost in
sudden, bloody power struggles.
The rot begins from within,
but is nurtured from without.
The old tree cracks and warps
With disease until a strong wind
comes and blows it down.
Even though the tree is riven,
it still struggles to bear fruit in a
last, poignant throw at immortality.
The sweetest apples grow on the
dying branches, but they are pitifully
few and are attacked by the small pests
that prey on new, bursting growth.
Then, when the end eventually comes,
The ripe apple proves to be only healthy,
succulent skin that encloses bruised,
corrupted and worm-eaten flesh.’
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Read Reviews
“The real King Arthur may have been a myth. He may have been a Celtic warlord, or nothing more than an embellished folk tale. Whatever the case, M.K. Hume’s Artor lived and breathed for three captivating novels. Impressive, and thoroughly enjoyable.” Jon Owens at Bookgeeks.co.uk
