The Shadow-Fighters

By Kevin Bolger

The story follows five children, Pandora, Inara, Ryel, Matu and Egyn. Aged between sixteen and thirteen. They live in villages on the land known as the PrimeLands. A vast landscape of forests, lakes and mountains. They are the sons and daughters of the clan leaders. The plot is set over several generations and begins with a story, The Legend of Aloris, who they later discover to be one of their ancestors.

The five meet for the first time at the gathering, where they learn they are the last of the Shadow fighters; mythical protectors they thought only existed in stories. They become drawn into another world, a mirror of their own but controlled by the Shadows lords. Making new allies on their journey and battling shadow demons the first book ends with the life of one hanging in the balance.
Book II Henyk The Witch; will hopefully be available by mid December.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Kevin Bolger
• Release date: Sep 16, 2015
• ISBN: 9781310561870

Book preview

THE SHADOW-FIGHTERS

BOOK 1

THE HIDDEN GATE

By Kevin Bolger

Illustrations By Coral Mular

Copyright 2015 Kevin Bolger

Smashwords Edition

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Table Of Contents

Prologue; The Legend of Aloris

Chapter 1: The Five

Chapter 2: The Lake

Chapter 3: Captain Ghenk

Chapter 4: The Valley of the Black Rock

Chapter 5: No Turning Back

Chapter 6: The Gatekeeper

Chapter 7: A New Moon

Chapter 8: The Shadows

Coming soon:

Book II of The Shadow-Fighters.

Henyk The Witch of The Wood.

Follow me on: Twitter @shadowfighters1

PROLOGUE

Rithian was a wanderer. They said he came from beyond the eastern mountains; as he did not belong to any of the clans on the Prime-Lands. Nevertheless, he knew of their stories, myths and songs from centuries past and was a master storyteller.

He was a short, rotund man with a mass of bright red hair and beard to match. Travelling from village to village, he would gather children of all ages around an evening campfire and tell of villains and kings, demons and heroes, of other worlds beyond hidden gateways and the Shadow-Fighters, legendary guardians of the Prime-Lands.

However, Rithian did not just tell a story, with every twist and turn of the tale he became each character. His voice could send shivers into the heart of the listener as well as laughter or tears. With his long flowing cape and the dancing shadows from the fire, he would create the illusion of almost anything and anyone. The children would sit quietly, mesmerized as he shifted from demon to winged beast to rider and horse.

There was one tale above all others they loved to hear and that was of Princess Aloris. It's true that every time he retold the story it became a little more elaborate, the monsters would be bigger and the battles even greater than before but it was only a myth so what did it matter. However, as Rithian recounted the tale for the children of the Chang-chi, in a far off village across the Silver Lake, the shadows were creeping through.

Rithian continued towards the conclusion............

'And that is when Aloris ran; she had to make it to the gateway. O’Ryel had fallen but he knew that in saving his friend, one of them at least would survive to seal the gateway. She ran as fast as her legs would carry her. The beasts were still searching, dark menacing screams echoed through the trees. The moon provided just enough light for Aloris to see her way through. She emerged from the forest, stopped for a second to catch her breath and get her bearings. A sense of relief washed over her as she caught sight of the village. This had been her second home away from the Prime-Lands. Now, the village was completely abandoned. With one last effort, she urged herself forward. After what seemed like an age, Aloris reached an abandoned barn where she could rest, even if only briefly. Her leg throbbed painfully; she examined the wound, three deep claw marks were already turning black. She needed the Gatekeeper’s help; he would know what to do. Tearing some fabric from her shirt, Aloris dressed the wound as best she could then sat down resting against a large hay bale.

Reaching inside her tunic, she pulled out a small black diary; its leather cover battered and scarred, held it to her chest, then cried.

O’Ryel had been her closest friend, they had assumed this time they would be strong enough to defeat the Shadow-Lords but they were wrong. Aloris closed her eyes and thought back the first time they found the gate. None of the other children at the gathering would cross over with her to the Shadow-Lands except for O’Ryel. Over the years, they had many adventures together and after gaining the trust of the villagers won several small battles against the demons but this one had been different. The Shadow-Lords summoned demons darker than any they had ever seen; even the people from the village had been lost. It was then she realized it must fall to others to defeat the Shadow-Lords. This would be her last journey through the gateway.

The diary held all her knowledge of the Shadow-Lands, the location of the gates, the safe places. And most importantly, how to access the magic or, as Aloris called it, ‘the light.’ O’Ryel being a good artist had drawn several maps and pictures, which Aloris had folded neatly between the pages. Unfortunately, in the Prime-Lands the book would only turn to dust, so it would have to remain here in the hope that someday it would be found.

Taking out her sword, she pried apart the planks in the wall. Before hiding the book, she opened it to the first page, scribbled a brief note and then touched the cover with the black stone from her ring. The gemstone shone briefly. The book, now wrapped in cloth from her shirt, would remain hidden for a very long time.

Aloris wiped the tears from her eyes and tiptoed to the door. Peering through a gap in the planks, she could see the