Lion on the Water
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| Title: | Lion on the Water |
| Cover Artist: | Don Semora |
| Genre: | Scifi/Fantasy |
| Series: | Land of the Lions |
| Publication Date: | September 2012 |
| Media Types: | Ebook |
| ISBN: | 978-1476030852 (ebook) |
| Preceded By: | Lion of the Earth |
| Followed By: | Lion and the Fire |
Lion on the Water is the third book in the Land of the Lions novel series and takes Tgegani, the Yigzan and many others back to the very roots of their existence, and to the foundation of their society. They are also taken on a powerful, exciting adventure to save both their past, and their future.
Summary
The book opens with a quick prologue focused in the distant past that blows the cover off the idea that the three races of Braisail are unique to the planet, but in reality have much deeper origins of the intergalactic variety. The story then switches back to the present where Ibara, one of Tgegani's family, is working at an archeological dig that he's overseeing when an accident happens. But this incident instead reveals a secret that's been hidden below the ancient city of Parlahbradel for many, many centuries. Surprised at what he finds, he calls Breakman and Tgegani to show them. When the two arrive, they're shocked at what they see, causing the mystery of how these items cam to be to grow deeper. However, before they can get any further they, along with Sine, Ver-mach and Ick-pok are all drawn through time to a period of history over a thousand years earlier. However, before they can determine what's happened, they're snatched up to an Ahbranai starship, along with Psial and Yazik, two Ahbranai scientists who have been secretly working on the planet studying the people of a long lost colony who had settled there nearly a millennia earlier, and given up their advanced technology and previous way of life to live a simplistic, agrarian life equivalent to the late bronze age.
Psial is angry with being pulled away from his work. But it's being done at the command of his father, Lord Bricket. Since he can't overrule his father's orders, he begrudgingly is taken back to his home while Tgegani and the other droids are taken to Dr. Daystar to be examined and later disposed of. Back on Braisail in the meantime, Negago meets Councilman Midazin the father of the Midazin nation, and one of the greatest enemies of the Yigzan people, and recruits him for a dark and nefarious plan. Back with Dr. Daystar, Tgegani and team slowly learn about the new world they've been plunged into, including who rules the galaxy, how it's ruled, the politics of the era and more, including the true origins of their people. They also learn that Daystar is a member of the rebellion (Psial is revealed to be one too later on) who seeks to stand against the evil of their own people, the Ahbranai, and bring true freedom to the galaxy. Being such, upon discovering that Meshua sent them there for a purpose, he frees the droids and helps them get up to speed on everything they will need to do their job here.
Elsewhere, Psial meets his evil father again and refuses to go along with his plans to have Psial take over a project where he's building a new planet for a group of Bacnai slaves controlled by his father Bricket. At firs the refuses to have anything to do with this project, or his father's plans. But, in time, Yazik talks him into it, pointing out the advantages to their research efforts on Braisail and elsewhere if he does agree to work for his father, as it gives him access to all of the family riches. Eventually Psial agrees and takes over the project as his father demands of him. Daystar then calls Psial and reveals that the droids that were delivered to him were sent by Meshua. After some discussion, and realizing they will need to work in two different theaters of operation, Tgegani and Psial work out a division of the droids into two teams, each going with a different person in order to begin their separate missions. Going with Psial is Breakman, Ver-mach and Ick-pok. The later two go with them due to their shape shifting abilities, and Breakman because of his new Yigzan like body that makes him look just like any other Ahbranai that he will be working with.
In turn, Tgegani, Ibara and Sine will go to Braisail with Yazik to work with their people there with the express goal to "return our people to their roots, to a focus on science and technology." However, shortly after arriving, they encounter Councilman Midazin, and begin to realize not only what time period they're in, but more of what their larger mission will be. While in the capital city of Parlahbradel, Sine makes friends with Shilik, captain of the guard, and slowly begins to acclimate himself to this new world as Tgegani and Ibara (who's currently geeking out at being able to live in and experience this time period, an era that he'd previously only been able to experience through history books) experience everything that Sine does remotely through his eyes, as it's considered to be too upsetting, and thus dangerous, for the two lions to be seen in public. At least at this time. Back in space, Bricket renews his contract with Negago, while Breakman, Ver-mach and Ick-pok learn more and more about Commonwealth culture, the division of social classes, and even some of the other Ahbranai lords, such as Lord Maisenches, and all of the inter-house politics that run rampant, even in this House Monty controlled station.
On Braisail, at the insistence of Negago, Midazin pushes to turn everyone into blind, obedient servants of Negago, while seeking power for himself, and doing so in the most devious ways. At one point Negago warns him that new enemies have arrived. Fearing the worst, he goes to the king in hopes of using the royal guard to flush them out. However, Brahdak, the king refuses to bite, and Midazin decides to teach the king a lesson. So he sends assassins to attack, and possibly kill the king, to make his point. But Meshua sends the lions to protect the king, of which they do brilliantly, killing most of them and protecting the king. Out in the galaxy, while seeking to upset the balance of power and get rid of Bricket, Bradish talks Breakman and his two companions into going to the headquarters of House Monty and assassinating Bricket, saying it's for the best for the universe. He then flies them there, drops them off on the planet, and they soon begin their mission. However, things don't go quite as desired as their original plans quickly fall apart. However, the team of three is able to salvage the mission, and it's Ver-mach who strikes the killing blow.
Back on Braisail,
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