Throne of Shadows: Volumes 1-3: Loth The Unworthy

By Charles Eugene Anderson

The epic Throne of Shadows saga evokes the action-packed spirit of Robert E. Howard's iconic Conan the Barbarian stories. Follow the barbarian warrior Loth and his allies as they battle sinister sorcerers, navigate treacherous ruins, and uncover dark conspiracies in a sprawling fantasy world. 

In Book 1, Loth is hired to infiltrate and assassinate the evil sorcerer king Thalus Kahn. Aided by the fierce warrior Anya and stealthy archer Shimoda, Loth journeys through haunted wastelands and an ominous black tower to confront the vile usurper.

In Book 2, Loth seeks to clear his name after being falsely accused of treason by Queen Valeria. Teaming up with the desert wizard Azax, Loth uses an ancient magical spear to expose the queen's lies and reveal the identity of the true villain manipulating the kingdom from the shadows.

In Book 3, Loth joins forces with Valeria's exiled sister to overthrow the deceitful king Xander, who has seized the throne through treachery. Their epic final confrontation will determine the fate of the realm.

With intense action sequences, dark magic, shadowy intrigue, and larger-than-life heroes, the Throne of Shadows books are perfect for fans of Robert E. Howard's Conan tales who crave hard-hitting heroic fantasy adventure.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Mad Cow Press
• Release date: Oct 4, 2023
• ISBN: 9798223021827

Charles Eugene Anderson

Charles Eugene Anderson lives in Colorado. Chuck is a former teacher. He now spends his time writing, hanging out with his pup, Champ, and learning how to bake. More about Chuck at http://charleseugeneanderson.com

Book preview

Rise of the Sorcerer King

BOOK 1

Chapter

One

Loth brooded in the shadows of the tavern, his calloused hand clenched around a tankard of sour ale. Though the drunken crowd roared with mirth around him, Loth had no taste for revelry that night. He was a hardened man who lived by the sword, driven only by a lust for gold that could never be sated. Honor and duty meant nothing to him, only the jingle of coins. Any task, no matter how vile, would be done if the purse was heavy enough. Men called him friend at dawn and cursed his name by dusk, but all knew to fear the jagged steel at his hip. Loth's loyalty went only as far as his purse, which was always light.

Lost in brooding, Loth barely noticed the woman as she approached until she sat opposite him. He eyed her warily, wondering what she wanted. She was fair of face, with fiery green eyes and waves of brown hair falling over her shoulders. She wore plain robes, but something about her spoke of power. She leaned close, her gaze fixed on his. You are Loth. I require your service.

Loth said nothing and drank his ale. He had no interest in a woman's words, no matter how beguiling. He was in a black mood, and his purse was flat. The peace had come at a significant cost to a sellsword. Be on your way, wench, he growled. I've no coin for your kind.

The woman stiffened but held her ground. You misunderstand. I've come to hire your blade, not your bed. This sty has plenty of sellswords, but I hear you are the most cunning and ruthless.

The barbarian snorted. Ruthless and cunning? Those are just drunken boasts and wishful thinking. I'm naught but a common sword-for-hire.

The woman leaned closer, her eyes gleaming. I know your reputation, Loth. I need someone who'll do what must be done without hesitation or mercy. Someone not afraid to court danger and death. And I'm willing to pay handsomely for your services.

Loth raised an eyebrow. How handsome?

Enough to fill your purse for a year, she said, placing a fat pouch of gold on the table. Half now, half when it's done.

Loth eyed the pouch greedily. What's the task?

The woman's face grew grave. I need you to kill the vile sorcerer king, Thalus Kahn.

Loth laughed heartily and said to the woman, I don't know who here is playing a joke on me right now but be gone. I have no time for jests.

Loth hungrily eyed the pouch of gold, his mind racing with its possibilities. To be free of petty jobs and meager pay for an entire year was a tempting prospect. But to kill Thalus Kahn - that was no easy task. The sorcerer king was too powerful.

It will take more than just gold to slay Thalus Kahn, Loth rasped. No man can match his witchcraft. Go now so I can go back to my ale. The job is too dangerous, and a dead man cannot spend gold.

The woman told Loth, Too bad, I thought you were the man for the job, but I must have been mistaken. I shall find someone else. She started to reach for the purse, but her hand went past it to Loth's hand on the tankard. She pierced Loth's skin with a small hidden needle in a ring. She poisoned him from its tip, and the barbarian fell immediately unconscious.

Chapter

Two

Loth awoke with a pounding headache, his vision blurred. He tried to move but found himself bound to a chair in a dimly lit room. He was no longer in the tavern. The pouch of gold sat on a table before him, just out of reach.

Awake at last, said a voice. The woman who had approached him at the tavern stepped out of the shadows. Behind her lurked two brutish men wielding cudgels.

Loth strained against his bonds and growled, What witchcraft is this?

The woman smiled coldly. No witchcraft, just a sleeping potion and a prick of your hand.

She picked up the pouch and tossed it at Loth's feet, the coins spilling onto the stone floor. As promised, part of your payment. If you succeed, gold beyond your wildest dreams.

Loth's eyes gleamed at the glinting pile. And what did I have to do to earn such a prize, kill a witch king? Did you take me for a fool?

You had to infiltrate Thalus Kahn's black tower, the woman said. And bring me back his head.

Loth scoffed. Impossible. His tower was impenetrable, protected by foul magic. What made you think I could have succeeded?

You had talents no other possessed. The woman drew close, her breath hot on Loth's face. Your fearsome reputation was well deserved. Thalus Kahn would have fallen before your cunning and your blade.

She cut Loth's bonds, freeing his sword arm. Loth flexed his muscles, ready to fight his way out. But the woman's following words gave him pause.

Kill Thalus Kahn, and much more gold would be yours. Refuse, and your life is forfeit.

Loth weighed his options. The risk was significant, but so too was the reward. He had vowed to let nothing and his lust for gold stand before him.

Loth turned to the woman, his eyes gleaming with cunning.

Impossible tasks demand impossible rewards, he rasped. Triple your offer and provide me with sorcerous weapons to counter Kahn's dark magics, and I will consider your request.

The woman narrowed her eyes. Bold words for a man in chains. What makes you think you can dictate terms to me?

Loth leaned forward, strains of his bonds creaking. You went through great trouble to bring me here, which means you need me. And you clearly have access to artifacts of power if you truly seek Kahn's demise.

He gestured at the gold with his chin. No man's life is worth so little, not even a king's ransom. If you want the world's most dangerous assassin, you must make it worth his while.

The woman pondered for a moment, then waved her hand. Two brutish men brought forth an ornate chest and opened it before Loth. He gazed wide-eyed at the gleaming hoard, weapons, and relics that radiated arcane might.

Very well, the woman said. Triple the payment and these tools of death are yours. With them, none in Kahn's realm can stand against you. So, do we have an agreement?

Loth grinned, his scarred face twisting. Aye, witch. You have a deal. His mind raced with thoughts of the fortune he would claim.

The hunt was on. With the right motivation, this wolf could not be leashed.

Chapter

Three

The barbarian still sat in the dimly-lit room, his piercing blue eyes searching to see if he still might have to fight this woman and her henchmen. In a shadowed corner, a comely wench with hair the color of burnished copper and eyes like emeralds gazed at him over her flagon of ale.

Loth leaned forward, slamming his fist upon the scarred table in front of him. Wench, if you wished for the aid of Loth, you had to first tell me your name.

The woman's eyes flashed with defiance. I was surprised a barbarian like you who had not heard of Valeria of Grayn Swa. She leaned closer, her voice dropping. My father was king of my lands before the serpent Thalus Kahn stole his realm.

Recognition sparked in Loth's mind. This is the lost princess whose lands had fallen to Thalus Kahn's horde, Vendhya. It was said she possessed a vast treasure and hungered to win back her kingdom.

Loth rubbed his wrists, recalling the ropes that had bound him only hours before. So that was why you sought me out.

Valeria smiled. I had heard tales of your exploits for many moons, how you crushed the bandits of the northern valleys and brought peace to the villages. Men spoke of your cruelty and cunning in battle.

Loth rose and paced the tavern floor, considering his following words. He had seen the same look in the marketplace when merchants weighed risks against rewards. This woman cared not if he lived or died, only that he furthered her ambitions.

You could have hired armies of mercenaries to win back your lands, he rumbled. The streets teemed with brutes and cutthroats.

Valeria's men glared from the shadows, hands on their sword hilts. But she raised a hand, staying their attack.

Mindless rabble would have fled at the first sight of blood, she said coldly. I sought only warriors of skill and fortitude to reclaim what was mine.

Loth fixed his piercing ice-blue eyes on Valeria, the firelight casting his rugged features in a fell glow. I alone cannot reclaim your lost kingdom, my lady, he rasped. But grant me two allies - fearsome warriors of legend whose very names strike dread. With such an unstoppable force at my side, no army could withstand our onslaught. Thalus Kahn's sorcery will pale before our combined might!

Loth clenched his fist. Give me but two of the land's most skilled killers, and I swear to you that your kingdom will be avenged! His eyes blazed with cold fury, the same murderous determination that had seen him triumph against impossible odds before. Victory was within their grasp if Valeria would only furnish the means.

The woman studied him, weighing his request. At last, she smiled, slow and cunning. "So be it, barbarian.