The Fortuitous Meeting (The Elephant and Macaw Banner - Novelette Series Book 1)

Gerard van Oost and Oludara are destined to become two of the greatest heroes in Brazilian history, but first, this unlikely pair must meet far from their homelands, in the central plaza of Salvador, capital of the fledgling colony. In a story that weaves through sixteenth century Africa and Brazil, Oludara, a slave, and Gerard, an outcast, must each outwit a legendary foe to overcome their pasts and forge a new future together. 
The Fortuitous Meeting, a finalist for the Nebula Award in 2011, is the story that started it all, the first in a series of fantasy adventures that can each be enjoyed in a single sitting.