THE KING'S GAME - Synopsis: After a crisis the humanity cannot escape, Nadtin and Udarc, two mercenaries that left on a mission to retrieve a mysterious package, arrive in a small mining town dominated by strange forces - the mole people, the sky people, soldiers, yelehs and demons. There they meet Karun and Oris, two ascets, descendants of an ancient family, and take part into a war started by the arrival of Tatu's army, a Mafia boss that spread terror in the whole region. The novel transports ideas and experiences about destiny, chance, identity, religion, love, creation or friendship into a fantastic world, where everything connects within. Ancient traditions, curses, spells and the Kalooshary dance are meant to restore the fragile balance that governs their life on earth and the universe. The whole story mirrors the hidden symbols of chess, where the king is the weakest yet the most important player. The imminent confrontation between good and bad, God and Devil dominates the whole plot and the ever-changing relation between man and divinity reveals another reason for God creating the world ... --------------------------------------- The priest's wife signaled them to shut up. She extinguished the candle with her fingers and showed them some shadows moving in front of the gate. "Those are the mole people! They attack the city! I need to sound the alarm!" she whispered." I'll go to the other tower at the alarm bell. The one here is for good news... We haven't used it in a long while!" "Let me! Stay here with my friend!" whispered Nadtin back. "We must take them by surprise! Shoot! Don't hesitate! When you hear the bell cover your ears, the sound is deafening! In the morning, the nanny or I, will take you to meet a man of trust... He can guide you to cross the mountains. And... one more thing! I am not mistaken about you! What can you say?! Feminine intuition or destiny! You are the right people! Try to get through this night as well!" "We're coming with you!" Nadtin grabbed her arm. "No! Listen to me! Stay here! Nana will take the children in the hall beneath the stairs and the seniors in the lattice mast. We know how to fight! We've done it before!" answered the priest's wife. "This way we'll get stuck in this bell tower! We can't help you if those get into the church!" said Udarc slowly. "Guard the keeper! It is very important!" she gave a firm answer, more like an order. "We'll take care of the rest!" --------------------------------------- Nshot touched him. In a fraction of a second, he saw the man's whole life. Mymo had a simple but organized mind and a handsome body. The prince of darkness made a gesture with his hand. At this, barbed wire appeared out of nowhere and sewed itself on the young man's mouth. Then, with another spell, he broke all his fingers to make sure he won't free himself. With a moan, Mymo had lost his consciousness. The demon abandoned the unconscious man at the edge of the forest. He did not kill him. A spare body could always prove useful. The man could not evade him anymore. After he had known him, Nshot could find him anywhere. --------------------------------------- The fighters greeted the public and stepped into the sand arena, in the interior yard of the base. The others gathered around them, anxious to watch, crazy with betting. The rules were simple. They fought on life and death. The challenged had the right to choose the weapons. Any strike or strategy was allowed. When the fate of the fight was uncertain, the mob would decide by calling the winner. Many times Tatu himself had to end a fight by killing the loser. The mob respected the winner. The soldiers who won got plenty of alcohol and women. The slaves got three days of freedom. During those three days, not even the commander could touch them. When the freedom days ended many of them chose to become soldiers, in order to keep their "freedom".