Search for the Holy Grail - Volume 1: No Quarter: Search for the Holy Grail, #1

By MJL Evans and GM O'Connor

In a world of fight or flight where can one find sanctuary? Search for the Holy Grail.

 

Volume 1 of 3
Hanover is under attack, which propels the countess Aurora of Calenberg and her handmaiden, Helena Braunschmidt, on a mission of survival. The Holy Grail sets sail only to be pursued by the worst pirates and cutthroats in the Caribbean.

Series Description
Every pirate in the Caribbean is searching for The Holy Grail—a ship carrying the treasury of Hanover and the countess Aurora of Calenberg, suspected of orchestrating the theft. Prinz Maximilian will stop at nothing to catch her and regain the fortune, even if it means following her into the deepest, darkest recesses of Samaná Bay. With pirates and cutthroats at every turn, will she be reunited with her handmaiden, Helena and her portrait painter, Dodo? Aurora's only solace is in a bottle of Cognac with a chaser of coca-leaf powder in this vibrant, fast-paced chase through the Caribbean.

• Language: English
• Publisher: MJL Evans
• Release date: Aug 11, 2022
• ISBN: 9781988616155

MJL Evans

MJL Evans is an Indie Author/Publisher and co-author of the 6-part series, No Quarter: Dominium. Future endeavours include co-authoring the books No Quarter: WENCH and No Quarter: The Dirge. She also hopes to have her books translated in various languages including French.MJL Evans is also a writer of romance and relationship articles featured in publications like Monday Magazine in November 2004 and again in February 2006, she writes fiction, historical fiction, erotica and humour. Published in the November 2014 issue of Flash Fiction Magazine, Red Dragon is vibrant piece of micro-fiction that delves into Victoria BC in the 1860s, when it was the opium capital of the New World.A native of Victoria, British Columbia, MJL Evans studied English at Victoria School of Writing and Camosun College. Not only is she passionate about her written expression, she is enthusiastic about her visual art masterpieces she has created over the past 20 years and has over 60 paintings to her credit. MJL Evans is also a lover of film, independent, foreign, and cult. Her favorites include: Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, Nymphomaniac, Secret Window, The Brood, Le Pacte des loups, Mesrine: L'Instinct De Mort and many others.

Book preview

Search for the Holy Grail

Volume 1

By MJL Evans and GM O’Connor

Search for the Holy Grail (No Quarter Series)

COPYRIGHT @ 2021

Megan JL Evans and GM O’Connor

ISBN: 978-1-988616-15-5

Cover Art and Illustrations: GM O’Connor and Megan JL Evans

Book Production and Editing: Megan JL Evans

All rights are reserved to the authors. No part of this ebook may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles or reviews.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events or locales is entirely coincidental.

NO QUARTER SERIES COPYRIGHT @ 2014

Author Bios

MJL EVANS wanted to be a writer since she was ten years old and in 2014 she finally got her act together and pursued her dream. She is the co-author of No Quarter: Dominium, No Quarter: Wenches, and Search for the Holy Grail. A huge fan of Monty Python, Red Dwarf, and other BBC shows, her time is devoted to acrylic painting, photography, catering to her senior cat and of course, writing.

You can connect with MJL Evans on Instagram at @mjlevans or [e-mail]

GM O’CONNOR is a visual artist, illustrator and writer who dabbles in guitars, acting, and sometimes wildlife rescue. A movie encyclopedia, he’s a fan of sci-fi and history. He is the co-author of No Quarter: Dominium, No Quarter: Wenches, and Search for the Holy Grail. He hopes to one day bring the No Quarter Series to film and/or graphic novel format.

You can connect with GM O’Connor on Twitter at @gm_oconnor or [e-mail]

CHAPTER ONE

Only the Stars Remain Constant

DECEMBER 20, 1689

The Christmas market was in full swing in a village nestled within the snow-covered hills of Hanover. Vendors in the town square filled steins with mulled wine and offered their handcrafted Advent wares of blown glass, wreaths, and seasonal foods like Backfisch and Stollen for sale. Evergreen garlands had been hung between buildings, and street lanterns bathed everything in a warm, golden glow.

Just beyond the festivities stood Oskar’s Metals. Inside, oil lamps burned, and Helena Braunschmidt stood peering through a telescope aimed through the window at the constellation Orion. She often wondered what it would look like to see flames flickering off its shoulder. Ares, an aged German mastiff of pure steel blue, lay sprawled at her feet, soaking up the warmth from the nearby kiln. Only the stars remain constant, Helena murmured.

The stars will be there. Oskar, in a leather apron, stirred up the fire.

Though they may appear upside down, Helena quipped, waiting for a laugh that didn’t come. Remember when I was little, you promised we would build the world’s largest telescope? One that can see so far… Her warm brown eyes gazed at the sky. You could see someone looking back at you from another world.

"Careful. I could be stoned just for hearing that, Oskar said. Cardinal Grimaldi has been seen in town. He’s had it out for you since he heard of this ‘moonraking’ you speak of. Traveling in dreams—nonsense like that only adds fat to the fire."

Are you scolding me? It is not nonsense. Helena stared out at the sparkling blue snow on the Deister mountains. I wonder if I’ll ever see them again? Moving to Aragua sat heavily on her shoulders. I’ll miss snow.

"Ja, no snow. Oskar patted his perspiring bald head with a piece of old cloth. I don’t like the heat, you know."

Says the man with a kiln.

At least I can cool off when I’m done here. The thought of a never-ending summer does not appeal to me. Oskar placed a telescope shell alongside the others, and then sidestepped to a sink containing fittings and rings.

Helena picked up one of the telescopes and aimed it out the window, not at the sky but at the Christmas market.

You’re not giving the coating time to dry, said Oskar.

She carefully returned it. Perhaps Aragua is not ready for fine telescopes. Maybe we’ll become pirates. Pirates of the Caribbean. Stranger things have happened, Helena said.

You and your fantasies.

This one is warped. She indicated one of the many telescopes.

I make the finest lenses in the world, Oskar said with pride. That has to count for something. We have everything the colony needs to be successful.

Except snow.

Doesn’t your countess need you?

She’s the Snow Queen this year. She’s not going to miss me for hours. She’s probably on her third bottle of brandy by now. I’m glad she can carry on as if nothing’s happening.

That explains it. You’re hiding here so you don’t have to go to the fancy-dress ball tonight at Angelin Castle. I’m flattered.

She’s oblivious, Helena said. She couldn’t care less about politics.

It’s her way of coping. She did send Catharina and Natalia on ahead to check it out. You know how close she is with Fred and Max. She must be torn up about it.

Catharina’s letter just arrived. She said the temperature was so high that lead was peeling off the windows. She had quite an adventure in the Jamaican Blue Mountains, but I’m not inclined to believe it. Though, apparently, they did meet some Maroons. She said Natalia found them fascinating.

Natalia hasn’t written? You did have an argument before she left.

Nothing that dramatic. Catharina said she is compiling a body of work first. She must try to show me up. Besides, there’s no point in trusting anything to seagoing mail now; it would take two months to arrive, and we’ll have left by the time it does. Helena glimpsed a device on the table. You finished it! She investigated the astrological mechanism with its spinning parts, wheels, and miniature comet.

Not quite yet, Oskar said. It needs adjustment.

You included the comet. Good. I tell you, it will come back. Helena peered through another finished telescope, looking across the village again. Houses were festooned with boughs of evergreen and multicolored lanterns. The nearby lake lay frozen beneath a fresh blanket of snow. I always like the lights this time of year. Snowy banks led up to the castle. Torches flickered, illuminating the stone building, with its towers and grand entrance guarded by the statue of a gilded, double-headed eagle.

Which color represents which gods or planets? Red for Vulcan or Mars? Helena pondered. At least we won’t have Cardinal Grimaldi there to tell you what we can and cannot see through our lenses.

No, only the Spanish Inquisition, the Dominicans, the Huguenots, the Quakers, Protestants, Catholics, and Jews. Cardinal Grimaldi spent time in the New World.

"Ja, he couldn’t stand the heat, either. That’s one thing we can learn from the cardinal. Helena aimed the telescope across the valley. Oskar, look at this. There are lights out there."

What, more flying lights? His mouth curled into a smile, and he aimed a telescope of his own. Where are we looking?

She adjusted his aim. Lights from the valley grew in number, forming rows.

Soldiers are across the lake, with cannons! Oskar’s shaky hands collapsed his telescope. It’s an army!

More lights ignited, moving towards the castle. Horse riders appeared out of the darkness, heading into town.

Ares barked.

Stay with Oskar. Helena looked into the dog’s eyes.

We should hide you. I’ll send someone to warn the countess. There was a pause.

Helena was already out the door and could hear Oskar mutter, I hate it when she does that.

She snapped the reins, and the wheels of the carriage squeaked over bumps. Helena’s heart pounded as the horse almost stumbled over itself getting up to full speed. She turned into a tunnel of trees, ducking to avoid being smacked in the face. Out of the corner of her eye, lights continued to cross the river. Once free of the tunnel, she came to a clearing next to a stone wall. Angelin Castle stood before her. She halted next to the entrance. The double-headed eagle glistened beneath the torch light, and raucous laughter and music carried from the grand hall.

Helena gave the guards a nod of acknowledgement and went inside. Within the grand hall, half a dozen trees stood decorated with shiny red apples, silk flowers and gingerbread. A feast of roast duck, roast goose, potato dumplings, sautéed mushrooms and apple and sausage dressing had been laid out on a banquet table.

She watched as a Feuerzangenbowle was delivered to an area covered in evergreen boughs. The scent of cinnamon and cloves emanated from the mulled wine. A pair of tongs was laid over the bowl and a cone-shaped sugar loaf was set between the metal pincers. White rum was poured over the sugar and set on fire. The caramelized mixture dripped appetizingly into the wine in the bowl.

Helena navigated through partygoers, all dazzling in their sequined costumes. Though they all wore ivory and gold masks, she recognized the Mayor of Hanover and the Baron of Leipzig by the gold pendants pinned to their collars. She pushed through a shimmering sea of blue, green, gold, and burgundy fabrics until she caught sight of sparkling white.

Countess Aurora of Calenberg stood laughing with Ariel, a gray and white turtledove on her shoulder. Her porcelain skin was pink from copious sipping of Cognac brandy and her plump frame sparkled in a bejewelled gown. An ostrich-feather headpiece bounced as she disappeared through the crowd.

Nearby was Dodo von Knyphausen, who painted the countess’s portrait. Clad in a long, dark cloak, a black beret, silver wig and matching beard, he did a passable impression of Leonardo da Vinci. He threw up his hands as the countess shuffled away. No, don’t leave! How am I to paint under these conditions?

Dodo sat with his paintbrush in a cup of turpentine while he took a long drink of white wine, admiring the canvas perched on his easel.

Where is she? Helena asked.

Mentally or physically? Dodo scratched beneath the false beard and absentmindedly mistook the turpentine for his drink.

How many has she had?

Glasses or bottles? Dodo scrutinized her attire, which comprised a moss-green skirt and matching bodice jacket with gold embroidery. Bottles. A few.

Dodo, I said don’t let her finish the fourth or the fifth. She’ll be spread like butter by midnight. Helena scanned the room. Who did she go with?

She’s off with the new guard captain. The dashing one in polished silver. She’s probably just showing him the ropes.

Pack your things; we’re leaving, said Helena. I’ll get the countess. She pushed her way through the crowd and reached a short, deserted hallway that led to a private sanctuary that both women shared since childhood. As children, they played hide-and-seek within the secret wall passages that would eventually lead to the secluded promenade.

Inside the study, the countess was lying on a wooden desk, legs in the air, with the guard’s head buried between her thighs. Aurora released a loud moan before he thrust into her.

Dodo clambered up behind Helena, his paints and easel packed. Are we setting up here? Shall I paint her in the upside-down position, or is she going for the just been ravished look?

Helena coughed and banged on the door. Countess, there’s an emergency.

Oh, Helena, there’s always an emergency with you. Oh, Captain Helmut, harder! Aurora clutched the guard and he grunted. No, no, don’t. You mustn’t!

My lady, there’s an emergency, said Helena.

Helmut tried to pull away, but Aurora’s legs locked around him. Her hat fell askew as she writhed against him. No, you mustn’t come in me. Don’t come. Don’t come.

Come quick! said Helena.

Aurora and Helmut both gasped, finishing.

You shouldn’t have, Aurora said.

Sorry, my countess, Helmut said. I didn’t mean to.

They slid apart and began putting their costumes back together.

That’s all right. You performed magnificently. This is your future bride, my handmaiden. Aurora indicated Helena. I had to make sure you were a man of quality first.

Helena and Dodo both looked at him as Helmut refastened his trousers and then his breastplate.

Not bad, Dodo remarked.

Countess, Helena said her voice rising impatiently. There are soldiers coming.

Oh, you’re so right. Aurora giggled.

We have to leave; it’s not safe. We’re under attack! I’ve seen horsemen.

I’ll go see what’s happening. Stay close. Helmut departed.

I for one could use a smoke. Aurora took out a marble pipe and tin of tobacco from a jewelled pouch, then went to the