Through Fire 5: Thlaxaca – The Blood Sun


Book Description

The Magd are defeated, and the alliance is broken. Rakvir returns to Kerkrand to govern as Duyar and finds problems adjusting, especially when Arhilka nearly dies in childbirth. A unique solar eclipse causes many Thlaxacans to believe that the world has been re-born to the age of "Angry Thlac" who wants all "Otherworlders" to be driven from their lands. The "Nameless Ones" begin a campaign of assassinating "Otherworld" rulers, intending that reprisals will foment rebellion. By chance, Rakvir recognises the man sent to kill the Zgar and gets him to take him to the leader of the "Nameless Ones", fearing that the only thing that will persuade them to stop is by walking through fire again. The fifth volume in the epic "Through Fire", "Thlaxaca: the Blood Sun" is set in a distant planet, not too dissimilar from our own. Richard Hernaman Allen, a former Commissioner of HM Customs & Excise, wrote "Through Fire" over a period of thirty years.




Through Fire 6 Thlaxaca: Blood of the Blood Sun


Book Description

Though the killings by the "Nameless Ones" cease, a rebellion in eastern Kardakan is put down brutally. Rakvir Stagarnik is sent on a mission to preserve peace, but the Thlaxacan ruler who resisted war is murdered and his successor leads his people against all the "Otherworlders". Rakvir breaks their northern army and, by walking through fire, persuades the Thlaxacan temple-priests that the solar eclipse did not mean "Angry Thlac". He demands that the priests dissuade their followers in Kardakan from further violence. Unfortunately in a final battle, death awaits one who least deserves it. Peace returns to an exhausted world and Rakvir and his family pick up the threads of their lives. The sixth and final volume in the epic "Through Fire" "Thlaxaca: Blood of the Blood Sun", is set in a distant planet, not too dissimilar from our own. Richard Hernaman Allen, a former Commissioner of HM Customs & Excise, wrote "Through Fire" over a period of thirty years.




Through Fire: 2 Kardakan


Book Description

Having escaped from a Magd slave camp, Rakvir Stagarnik and his companions flee south to Kardakan, where they are taken up by the Governor of Bulgand, a wise man. Rakvir's career advances in the Kardakan army through his strategic ability and skirmishes with the Magd. His love for Arhilka is put to the test by the Governor's daughter, Ruhqshana. Military success takes him to Arukand, capital of Kardakan were he must remain sure-footed amid the shifting sands of the venal and vindictive court of Saldjaran Jafzim. Various teachers expand his understanding of how he should lead his life But is he the hunter or the hunted? The second volume in the epic "Through Fire", "Kardakan", is set in a distant planet, not too dissimilar from our own. Richard Hernaman Allen, a former Commissioner of HM Customs & Excise, wrote "Through Fire" over a period of thirty years.




Through Fire 7: Background Papers


Book Description

The epic novel "Through Fire" is set in a far distant world. In order to provide background for the events which take place in the novel, a short history and geography of the world are provided here. As the hero encounters many people in different lands, the different lands speaking different languages, a list of characters and of translations of all the foreign words used are also set out. Certain poems play an important part in the narrative. They are collected here, as well as maps of the world and notes on pronunciation. Richard Hernaman Allen, a former Commissioner of HM Customs & Excise, wrote "Through Fire" over a period of thirty years.




Through Fire: 3 Magdarg


Book Description

To prevent a violent campaign by Saldjaran Jafzim's army, Rakvir Stagarnik leads a small force to seek the Kalq Runa'at, thought to be a threat to the throne. To persuade him to sign a declaration of loyalty, Rakvir follows him in walking through fire. Cheated of the chance to capture the Kalq Runa'at, Rakvir's enemies send him on an embassy taking tribute to the Kahg of the Magd. Learning he is to be killed, Rakvir escapes and, discovering ships for an invasion, burns them. When war begins he is despatched with a small force on a diversionary campaign within Magdarg. After several victories, he fears that his home town is under siege and hurries to get there before the worst happens. The third volume in the epic "Through Fire", "Magdarg", is set in a distant planet, not too dissimilar from our own. Richard Hernaman Allen, a former Commissioner of HM Customs & Excise, wrote "Through Fire" over a period of thirty years.




Through Fire 4 MAGDARG: The Judgement of Subrid


Book Description

Reunited with Arhilka and his family, Rakvir Stagarnik marries Arhilka, becoming Duyar of Kerkrand. He defeats the Magd armies on Karizhian soil and subsequently unmasks the traitors at the court of the Zgar. Allied with neighbouring realms also invaded by the Magd, he attacks their main northern fortress successfully with a rain of fire. Asked to command the Karizhian army, he attacks the Magd from the west, destroying their main army at the "Pass of the Warriors", but only after his allies' armies have been defeated by the Magd. As he attacks their last fortress in their capital, an immense lightning bolt strikes the fortress and kills many of the remaining enemy. The fourth volume in the epic "Through Fire", "Magdarg: the Judgement of Subrid", is set in a distant planet, not too dissimilar from our own. Richard Hernaman Allen, a former Commissioner of HM Customs & Excise, wrote "Through Fire" over a period of thirty years.




Through Fire: 1 Karizhka


Book Description

Born the son of a fisherman in a small provincial port, Rakvir Stagarnik is given the chance to attend school. There he befriends the son of the local ruler, but, having fallen in love with the ruler's daughter, he is caught with her and has to flee to escape the ruler's vengeance. With two friends, he heads across the mountains only to be captured by a raiding party of barbarians and taken into slavery. He is badly beaten and forced to haul trees up the hillside near a barbarian fortress. In cold hatred, he makes plans to kill the barbarians and escape to make his fortune in the south. The first volume in the epic "Through Fire," Karizhka, is set in a distant planet, not too dissimilar from our own. Richard Hernaman Allen, a former Commissioner of HM Customs & Excise, wrote "Through Fire" over a period of thirty years.




The Waterguard


Book Description




The Body in the Marine Buildings


Book Description

A hundred-year-old body is discovered walled up in the flat above one owned by the daughter of Nick and Rosemary Storey. How did he get there and why? Deal was a notorious smuggling town and, as a former Customs Commissioner, Nick thinks it might be a smuggler or an exciseman. As a former Chief Inspector in the Fraud Squad, Rosemary prefers to find evidence. From censuses and other old archives, clues emerge. Could Samuel Rust, inventor of “Rust’s Tonic” be involved? Or Gerard Culpeper, bankrupted by his brother Charles? Or two rival schoolmasters Percival Dromgoole and Jerome Barfoot? And why are their investigations causing someone to write threatening letters, which move on to a bomb in the petrol tank of their car? Will the concerns of the living enable Nick and Rosemary to discover the secrets of the dead, by way of some of the genteel towns in Kent? Richard Hernaman Allen is a former Commissioner of Customs & Excise, who has written nearly thirty detective stories, mostly set in Customs & Excise.




Out Of Sight 1: A Suspicious Death


Book Description

Suspicious visitors from across the ocean, who vanish once they reach Ralchis are followed by several untoward events, culminating in the brutal murder of a citizen of Kerkrand. Evidence suggests the Ralchis authorities wished to conceal it. Rakvir and Arhilka Stagarnik travel to Ralchis, in the guise of merchants from Kardakan attempting to sell 'ghan'. Negotiating with three merchants shows their remarkable duplicity and deviousness - and a city where wealth is concentrated among a small, arrogant merchant class, some of whom like to be known as "Old Thanians". Amid the summer heat and a wall of deceit, Rakvir and Arhilka struggle to get closer to the truth. "Out of sight - 1 a suspicious death" is the first of three volumes where Rakvir and Arhilka Stagarnik investigate murder and corruption in the City of Ralchis.