At Columbyann Palace during the 6th Reign of Emperor Jahn, the emperor has decided it is time to take a wife. Five women of high stature are being brought before the court as perspective brides for Emperor Jahn. General Tearlach Merin, currently being considered for Minister of Defense, is volunteering to fetch Belalari Haythorne of the quite wealthy Turi clan. Merin previously spent time with this clan, including sex with the virgin Bela, and he knows that it would be dangerous to send someone else.

When Merin arrives at the village, he's shocked to discover that Bela tricked him into performing the Turi marriage vow ritual on his previous visit -- and he finds himself married to her. To dissolve the marriage, Bela and Merin begin the tradition of being bound to each other for 22 days by a red, white and black braided cloth tied around their waists. Added to the mix is Kitty, a magical sword that's "chosen" Bela. Also, the clan is being threatened by Nobel, a man who previously pursued Bela, and plans to have her and Kitty for his own. Bela and Merin are forced to journey to the forbidden mountain where Kitty was found to search for answers before Nobel returns to claim Bela.

Bela and Merin make startling discoveries in the cave where they leave Kitty safe from Nobel's hands. They find etchings that involve their unborn female child. Bela and Merin find each other and their sexual prowess at the mountain. Now they must race back to save her clan, while Merin must make a choice of keeping Bela or offering her to Emperor Jahn.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this magical tale of the powers of love and the mystical, powerful sword. There is so much to this story that it is impossible to tell. It is a must read to fully enjoy the surprises and the magic of the tale. I loved the exciting characters and their spirited souls. An enchanting and hard-to-put-down novel.

Book Summary

Just when the lovely Bela has given up on Merin - the dashing general to whom she lost her maidenhead - he appears in her native Turi, with orders from the emperor to return with Bela as a prospective Empress. Fearless and skilled with her magical sword, Bela embodies everything Merin could want in a soldier. Except she's a female. And already married - he's horrified to learn - to him...

For her own reasons, Bela drugged him all those years ago, performing the Turi marital rite. Now, to server the Turi bond forever, Bela and Merin must remain bound together by a short rope for 22 days - and 22 nights. That is, if they don't kill each other first...

But on the horizon looms a cutthroat enemy. Now the pair will have to rely on each other-- and the magical sword--to make through alive, and experience the strength of the ties that bind...