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The Annals of Lystra #2
Stone of Help
The Chataine’s guardian, Roman, sees his dreams fulfilled beyond his wildest hopes when the armies invading Lystra are felled by disease and Roman’s Commander, Galapos, assumes rulership of the country. Moreover, Roman is reunited with his bride, Chataine Deirdre, who is pregnant with their first child. But while Galapos is consumed with the task of rebuilding war-torn Lystra, Deirdre allows herself to be lured away from Roman’s protection. Immediately after giving birth in a cave, she is sold into slavery and taken to another province. Upon her mysterious disappearance, Roman undertakes a futile search for her, not knowing that her redemption has already been ordained, nor the terrible price that must be paid to free her. The Annals of Lystra begin with Chataine’s Guardian, continue in Stone of Help, and conclude with Liberation of Lystra.
204 pages
First published January 1, 1985
11 people are currently reading
62 people want to read
About the author
Robin Hardy
56 books47 followersI've written a new series! It's a distant sequel to The Annals of Lystra (begun in Chataine's Guardian) and The Latter Annals (begun in Nicole of Prie Mer). This is where it begins:
Thirty-five years after the assassination of Henry, Surchatain of Lystra, the province is no more and its capital Westford a shadow of its medieval greatness. With the fever now ravaging the palace, the army, and the town, a new Surchatain has ascended the throne of Westford, requiring a loyalty oath for all his subjects and soldiers.
Efran, Captain of the Red Regiment of the Army of Westford, is Polonti—a member of the brown-skinned, black-haired race generally regarded with contempt by Southerners on the Continent, including many in Westford. Knowing of the loyalty oath required on pain of death, Efran lays plans to leave once he has recovered from the fever himself.
But Efran is hindered by entanglements with the Surchatain’s two daughters—one who despises him and one who adores him.
He is appointed guardian of one Chataine. When the palace begins crumbling on its foundations, Efran takes his charge and a street urchin to an abandoned fortress south of Westford in the midst of wolf territory. While he gathers more homeless children at the fortress, the other Chataine prepares to lead an army against him for the legendary treasure hidden in the desolate Abbey of St. Benedict on the Sea.
The Stories of the Abbey of St. Benedict on the Sea comprise 36 novellas, each around 50,000 words, that make for one continuous story from the beginning to a definite end. To introduce this series, I'm offering free pdf and epub downloads of all the stories. Each pdf includes links, pronunciations, maps, and an illustration with notes. (The epubs contain all of the above except maps.)
Thirty-five years after the assassination of Henry, Surchatain of Lystra, the province is no more and its capital Westford a shadow of its medieval greatness. With the fever now ravaging the palace, the army, and the town, a new Surchatain has ascended the throne of Westford, requiring a loyalty oath for all his subjects and soldiers.
Efran, Captain of the Red Regiment of the Army of Westford, is Polonti—a member of the brown-skinned, black-haired race generally regarded with contempt by Southerners on the Continent, including many in Westford. Knowing of the loyalty oath required on pain of death, Efran lays plans to leave once he has recovered from the fever himself.
But Efran is hindered by entanglements with the Surchatain’s two daughters—one who despises him and one who adores him.
He is appointed guardian of one Chataine. When the palace begins crumbling on its foundations, Efran takes his charge and a street urchin to an abandoned fortress south of Westford in the midst of wolf territory. While he gathers more homeless children at the fortress, the other Chataine prepares to lead an army against him for the legendary treasure hidden in the desolate Abbey of St. Benedict on the Sea.
The Stories of the Abbey of St. Benedict on the Sea comprise 36 novellas, each around 50,000 words, that make for one continuous story from the beginning to a definite end. To introduce this series, I'm offering free pdf and epub downloads of all the stories. Each pdf includes links, pronunciations, maps, and an illustration with notes. (The epubs contain all of the above except maps.)
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
January 8, 2026
This was a great sequel!
After giving birth to their son, Deirdre and Roman are joyous. When Deirdre is kidnapped, she is forced to give birth to their son without Roman.
I liked that we got two storylines in this one. We followed Roman as he was desperately trying to find his wife. Then, we saw Deirdre struggle as she experiences life as a kitchen slave. What I loved seeing was Deirdre taking care of an orphaned baby.
Looking forwards to seeing how the trilogy wraps up!
After giving birth to their son, Deirdre and Roman are joyous. When Deirdre is kidnapped, she is forced to give birth to their son without Roman.
I liked that we got two storylines in this one. We followed Roman as he was desperately trying to find his wife. Then, we saw Deirdre struggle as she experiences life as a kitchen slave. What I loved seeing was Deirdre taking care of an orphaned baby.
Looking forwards to seeing how the trilogy wraps up!
August 16, 2022
This series is fast becoming one of my all time favorites.
January 8, 2023
This is at least my fourth time reading through this series. The first was when they were first published. I know this will not be my last. Obviously, I highly recommend these books!
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September 9, 2024This is clean romance.
May 13, 2009
This is a beautiful story! My least favorite of the three in this series and yet the one that still lingers with me after all these years. Deidre is beyond spoiled, selfish, and add to that... the perfect example of rampaging pregnancy hormones. If you read the first book, you meet her as a child, watch her grow up into a young woman living in the lap of luxury, and experience her emotional roller-coaster that comes with her developing love for the perfect hero, Roman. By the second book, they are married, expecting thier first born child, and trying to pull thier kingdom back together after a vicious war. Deidre is kidnapped, her newborn baby stolen from her, and she is enslaved in the royal house of a neiboring kingdom (who was on the other side of the war). Deidre learns humility, compassion, and true love the hard way. She developes a real relationship with God and experiences one of the best examples though in the most heartbreaking way of what God's sacrifice for our sins was really like. This is, in a sense, a spiritual coming of age story and very beautifully written!! But be warned ~ you'll need a box of tissues at the end of the book!! :)
March 4, 2012
An excellent sequel to the captivating "Chataine's Guardian," this story picks up right where the other left off. Deirdre is with child by her husband Roman, and her father Galapos is ruling a war ravaged land. Although under some hardships, the three are putting the pieces back together, and the future seems promising. Everything changes however, when Deirdre disobeys her husbands wishes and gets into serious trouble. Her actions put the lives of her husband and father at risk, as well as her own. Throughout her struggling though, Deirdre finds that God has a plan, and can turn a tragic occurrence into beauty.
I enjoyed the first in this series, and I vastly enjoyed this book as well. I am excited to read the final novel, and recommend all three books to anyone who loves to read; especially stories placed in the medieval.
I enjoyed the first in this series, and I vastly enjoyed this book as well. I am excited to read the final novel, and recommend all three books to anyone who loves to read; especially stories placed in the medieval.
April 29, 2015
This is the second book of the Annals of Lystra.
The story starts out with Deidre about to have her baby. She has found out that the Surchataine, her father, wasn't her real father but Galapos is. And now that Lystra has been freed from the invading forces, everyone is glad. Galapos is the new Surchatain. But news from one of the neighboring states is that they will be attacked and tries to enlist Lystra to help them. Furthermore, Deidre, just having her baby, is kidnapped and sold into slavery. Roman goes after her.
Once again the plot is riveting with the kidnapping, sorcery and believing in faith. It makes a good continuation of the Annals of Lystra.
The story starts out with Deidre about to have her baby. She has found out that the Surchataine, her father, wasn't her real father but Galapos is. And now that Lystra has been freed from the invading forces, everyone is glad. Galapos is the new Surchatain. But news from one of the neighboring states is that they will be attacked and tries to enlist Lystra to help them. Furthermore, Deidre, just having her baby, is kidnapped and sold into slavery. Roman goes after her.
Once again the plot is riveting with the kidnapping, sorcery and believing in faith. It makes a good continuation of the Annals of Lystra.
June 23, 2016
Loved it from beginning to end.
December 31, 2017
I really looked forward to reading this book and it didn't let me down.
April 23, 2012
Loved the continued allegory!
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews