The Shadowed Path

Summary: In the cute town of Lightheart, which is tucked away among quiet hills and whispering woods, four brave friends are drawn into an old story. There are rumors of a dark path that traps them in the unknown and is marked by an old curse. Leo, Mia, Jake, and Zoe decide to solve the secrets that have been haunting their home for a long time by going on a trip that will test their strength and bring them together in ways they never thought possible. With nothing but their unwavering courage and the bonds of their long-lasting friendship, the crew sets out on a journey into the heart of the shrouded route. They run into problems in the form of questions and riddles that block their path. Each one brings them closer to the truth. They are determined and persistent in everything they do, from figuring out the ancient markings on a strange map to facing the scary whispers in the Whispering Woods. Their journey takes a dramatic turn when they find an old rock that is glowing with a soft but strong light. With the help of a road guardian, they figure out that this rock is both where the curse comes from and how to break it. As never before, they fight a war of the shadows that will decide Lightheart's fate as they face the darkness that wants to put out their light. They try to clean the crystal one more time and send out a flash of light that gets rid of the shadows and lifts the curse. The valley, which was dark before, is now filled with light and looks like a beautiful dream. When they get back to Lightheart, there are huge celebrations because they are seen as heroes for finding the truth and making their town better. Generations have learned from the story of the murky road and the brave friends who find a way through it that courage is a virtue, friendship is strong, and light always wins over darkness. Lightheart grows, a tribute to the eternal light that lives inside all of us and a constant warning that light can be found if you're brave enough to look for it, even when things are at their darkest. Chapter 1: the Story Every child in the small village of Lightheart looked forward to a certain activity. In this village, smiles were as common as the flowers that grew everywhere. As the sun went down, the sky would turn orange and pink, and they would gather around a roaring fire, eyes wide with hope. The warm glow of the fire cast swirling shadows behind them, making them look even more scared. Old people in the town, who were wise and wrinkled from age, were about to tell stories that had been told for years. The kids were especially interested in the story about an old trail that was said to be hidden somewhere near their town. People said that this path was cursed by a strong, ancient force and wasn't like any other. The kids leaned in closer, making sure they didn't miss a word as the adults spoke in a respectful but careful way. For those brave enough to cross the road, it was said that the shadows would be so thick that they would feel like they were alive. There were stories about strange sights and sounds, as well as mutterings in the dark that told long-lost secrets. The air around the path was filled with the magic of old spells, and only the bravest people were thought to be brave enough to explore its secrets. The elders warned that the way was guarded by mysteries as old as the stars themselves, illusions that could trick the eyes, and puzzles that could twist the mind. But there was also the idea that overcoming these problems would lead to amazing achievements. The Lightheart kids were very interested in these stories. Their minds were as active as the fires in front of them, making clear pictures of the road that was hidden by the darkness. They dreamed of going on trips to find this interesting road, walking along paths where shadows danced, and finding out what the curse meant. For kids who were brave enough to listen, the story of the old road became a sign of excitement. It was dark outside, and the Lightheart children were very brave when the fire was reduced to glowing coals and the stars started to come out. They dreamed as they went to sleep that they were heroes in their own stories, that they were in myths, and that they found the truth behind the strange path. The story of the old, evil road had a magical effect on the new generation, making them dream, believe, and maybe even go exploring one day.

NOTHING AHEAD BUT VENGEANCE - NOTHING BEHIND BUT BLOOD Soldier. Fight slave. Smuggler. Warrior. Brigand Lord. You may have encountered Jonmarc Vahanian in the Chronicles of the Necromancer but you don’t really know him until you walk in his footsteps. This is the start of his epic journey. A blacksmith’s son in a small fishing village before raiders killed his amily, Jonmarc was wounded and left for dead in the attack. He tried to rebuild his life, but when a dangerous bargain with a shadowy stranger went wrong, he found himself on the run. Gail Z. Martin returns to the world of her internationally best-selling books with these thrilling ales of adventure and high fantasy, collected together here for the very first time. OVER HALF A MILLION CHRONICLES OF THE NECROMANCER BOOKS SOLD

Nothing ahead but Vengeance - Nothing behind but Blood Soldier. Fight slave. Smuggler. Warrior. Brigand Lord. You may have encountered Jonmarc Vahanian in the Chronicles of the Necromancer but you don't really know him until you walk in his footsteps. This is the start of his epic journey. A blacksmith's son in a small fishing village before raiders killed his family, Jonmarc was wounded and left for dead in the attack. He tried to rebuild his life, but when a dangerous bargain with a shadowy stranger went wrong, he found himself on the run. Gail Z. Martin returns to the world of her internationally best-selling books with these thrilling tales of adventure and high fantasy, collected together here for the very first time.

The malign shadow of the Devourer has darkened the land, extinguishing life and hope. The followers of the benevolent goddess Karm are hunted mercilessly and cut down by an army of bewitched slayers led by Lord Bahl, the Devourer’s flesh-and-blood incarnation. Only two people stand in the way of an apocalyptic bloodbath that will literally bring hell to earth: a man and a woman linked by a love as strong as it is unlikely–Honus, a grim-faced warrior dedicated to Karm, and Yim, a beautiful former slave with the divine power to stop Lord Bahl. But that power will prove a terrible curse as Yim is called upon to make a costly sacrifice–a sacrifice that will not only put her love for Honus to the test but call into question her very faith. As the evil storm descends, can the flame of hope endure?

BLOOD WILL TELL Seventeen years have passed since Yim, an ex-slave blessed by the benevolent goddess Karm, sacrificed her body—and perhaps her very soul—to Lord Bahl, avatar of the evil Devourer. In that selfless act, Yim stripped Lord Bahl of his power but became pregnant with his son. Now that son, Froan, is a young man. And though Yim has raised him in the remote Grey Fens and kept him ignorant of his past, the taint of the Devourer is in his blood. Even now an eldritch call goes out—and the slumbering shadow stirs in Froan’s blood, calling to him in a voice that cannot be denied. Armed with a dark magic he barely understands, Froan sets out to claim his destiny. When Yim seeks to stop him, her sole hope is that Honus—the love she abandoned—will take up the sword again for Karm’s sake and hers. Only then can she hope to face the impregnable bastion of unspeakable evil: the Iron Palace.

Seer, healer, goddess, slave–she is all these things and more. Yim is a young woman suddenly cast into slavery, a gifted seer with a shocking secret–and a great destiny. Honus is a Sarf, a warrior dedicated to the service of the compassionate goddess Karm. A Sarf’s sole purpose is to serve a holy person called a Bearer. But Honus’ s Bearer has been killed by the minions of an evil god known only as the Devourer. Masterless and needing someone to bear his pack, Honus purchases Yim for the price of ten coppers–and their fates are forever entwined.

In the west the ancient empire of Prast crumbles, an old man too sick to climb out of his deathbed. In the east an upstart nation of sun worshipers spread their heathen ways, swallowing up city-states and small kingdoms as they tread ever closer to Prast's borders. War is inevitable. A war greater and more bloodthirsty than any seen since the old gods left the world. And yet, war is as nothing compared to the greatest danger. The Shadowland. A vast swathe of corrupted jungles, deserts and mountains, saturated in malevolence. Ever since the time of myth it has separated east from west, a mark on the world to remind all men of the anger of their gods. Now it has begun to spread, spewing out its deadly creatures on the nations, threatening to corrupt and consume everything. Only one man carries the key to stopping the Shadowland, a man battered and scarred from his years alone in its deadly grasp. To stop it he must first make a friend of his greatest enemy... ...and then he must enter the Shadowland again...