A cave in a dark forest, a royal castle, an abandoned church. These are the places where the dark wanders and from which it issues challenges.In "The Tower of the Eagle" an unscrupulous man courts a wizard's daughter.In "The Gate of the Ages" an ancient wizard struggles in vain against his own creation.In The Fire of St. Denian's a young man just discovering his powers must face foes that make the bravest blanch, and after that must battle a darkness that can't be kill...

Dewi, a child who takes shelter from the rain in a cave, meets an ancient danger seeking vengeance  

"Fight with whom you will; avenge those you deem most worthy." Sister Shifra's orders tell Hudde nothing useful about his mission. He doesn't know that the caves beneath the castle teem with supernatural creatures, nor can he guess the nature of the changes that overtake him there. The island of Gelio in the Isegsae has know tranquillity for centuries. The people farm and fish in liberty and their sons and daughters marry in peace. They even have to import their fi...

Three thousand years of experience provides Iddin-Lagumal with an abundance of wisdom and the experience to deal with nearly any issue. Now his best defences become his enemy, and he's helpless to protect all he cares for in this world. Can his years and his magic provide an answer?

Basima is an assassin. To the Order of the Scorpion, Death is sacred and life is worthless. When money changes hands, people die. Tonight money has changed hands, but tonight the Order of the Scorpion has to deal with with a challenge it's never faced before. Tonight Basima's priorities change forever. This is a 9,000-word short story.  

Hob is a young man on his way to a nearby fair with his friends. Along the way he becomes lost and seeks shelter in an isolated temple. Does he stand any chance of surviving what he finds within?  

In Nikye in the conquered land of Nesalia, Ozan lives the quiet life he enjoys, running a bookshop and chatting with customers of all stations in life. At least that's what he thought, until unexpected events occur with unprecedented regularity.The appearance of a new thieves' guild threatens the uneasy peace between the authorities and the criminal element, and Ozan's delicate neutrality.On top of that, trouble comes into his life in the form of hauntingly beautiful people...

When their ancestral enemies lay siege to Lord Horea's castle and city, Kondrat, his aging captain-at-arms, knows just what to do. Then all changes when his men start dying, killed by an invisible, non-corporeal assassin. Now Kondrat alone stands between destruction and all he loves.  

When the Night of Nights takes over holy ground, no one has the means to combat it. For over a century no one can drive off the evil, and nothing can survive within. Brother Alden is a young man and new to the Brothers of the Third Star. Hereward is an older man, a veteran soldier turned monk, and hopelessly out of his depth facing a darkness he can't cut and stab. Mildgyth is a member of the Poor Sisters of Mercy, untried and hopelessly in love, and Blessed with an unusual talent ...

In a world of violence and danger, five women must use nurturing magic to overcome an army. As they strive for the safety of their families and neighbours, they discover that all is not as it seems.This is a 3300-word short story, and this e-book also contains the stories "The Pint of Innocence" and "Masks."

When a little girl is lost in the woods, the last thing she needs is an approaching monster. Can Alienor survive her encounter with a nightmare?This is a 3600-word short story, and this e-book also contains the stories "The Lake" and "The Pint of innocence."

Jowan, a master mage of the Uala Guild trapped in the rival city of Pnastre must overthrow the masters of the land to free the people.  First, though, he must find a source of power because he's exhausted his meagre supplyand power is illegal in Pnastre. This is a 3400-word short story and this e-book also contains the short stories "The Lake" and "Masks"