The Abattis - Book 6

Evil cares naught about victories
…it can never be defeated

In the year 1758, the war would turn in England’s favor. Events begin to move quickly as the strategy for winning in North America becomes clear in the eyes of the English: attack and invest the capital city of Louisbourg on Île Royale, also called Cape Breton Island by the English. Louisbourg guarded the water passage inland, up the Saint Lawrence River. If Louisbourg were to fall, Québec City would become vulnerable. Simultaneously, attack and invest Fort Carillon on Lake George. Fort Carillon was the military heart of the Canadian defenses. It guarded the path north on Lake Champlain to Montréal. If that strategic fort were to fall,
Montréal would become vulnerable. 

In September 1757, England suffers its most devastating loss of the war―the fall and destruction of Fort William Henry on Lake George. A humiliation made worse as the British American forces withdrew only to be ambushed and massacred by tribal warriors. The terms of surrender, negotiated by the French commander, General Louis Joseph de Montcalm, guaranteed this would not happen. Yet it did! The colonial Americans, much more than the English, wanted retribution for this slaughter. 

The Abattis opens in October 1757. Corrinne, Marcus, and Calypso arrive at the naval port of Brest, France, after fleeing Louisbourg. They seek refuge at the residence of Madame Margaux Dubonnet de Arras, Corrinne’s twin sister, someone she’s not seen since their infancy. But Margaux is far away in eastern France with her husband in the city of Amiens. Within a few weeks, Corrinne realizes Brest will not be the refuge for the remainder of the war as she’d hoped. Corrinne is isolated, in an unfamiliar city, with no knowledge of the surrounding lands, and no sense of the culture of the people other than language. Most importantly, she has no loyal allies among the ruling class, the aristocracy, as she’d been favored with in New France. Corrinne and her children are now much closer to enemies of the House of Brunswick Wolfenbüttel and servants of the wraith. Could they be protected? Yet, Corrinne finds a way to strike back at the wraith! And everything changes.
 
In North America, after the fall and massacre at Fort William Henry, Governor General Vaudreuil and General Montcalm send Scout Captain Philippe Gerrard on a daring mission of diplomacy to meet, General, Sir William Johnson, carrying a proposal for an armistice. But not between France and England, but an armistice between the Canadians of New France and the colonial Americans! 

In North America, Major General James Abercrombie, is assigned Brigadier General Lord George Augustus Howe, a revered war fighter to command the attack on Fort Carillon. At Louisbourg, Brigadier General James Wolfe, an equally aggressive war fighter would lead the water borne invasion of Louisbourg. 

In Louisbourg, Lieutenant Henri Gerrard had trained an elite group of marine grenadiers. But Henri lacks the perspective on amphibious warfare and is unprepared for the ferocious strength and determination of the British invaders. Most importantly, Henri must care and protect Anamosa , as he promised Corrinne. 

The ghost eagle never sleeps. It can “see” the wraith and any of its servants. Though challenged by the great distances, the changing events, and the dangers to the people it watches, the ghost finds a way to help them all. This time would be different!