Ever wanted to take a walk through the wilds of Skyrim, enjoy a pint with friends in The Prancing Pony, or warm yourself by a campfire in the snowy woods after a day of adventuring?
Then welcome to Forsbyr, a small mining town tucked away in the mountains of cold, frosty Mailenstead. Grab a tankard of mead and make yourself at home in the great, hearth-lit hall of the Nightgate Inn and get to know the locals.
Thirteen years have passed since Neea Kallenen left Forsbyr abruptly as a girl. Now a full-fledged member of the Scholar's Guild, she, along with her apprentice Pim, has returned to the town of her childhood to serve as its Scholar General. Will the people of Forsbyr accept her as one of their own? Will she be able to heal the wounds of her past, rekindle forgotten friendships, and perhaps reignite a long lost love?
In this collection of tales, you'll meet a variety of characters as Neea and Pim explore and try to unravel the mysteries and magic of the town and the surrounding wilderness.
There's Drazhen, the lonely woodworker who has shut himself away in a hut in the woods; Rikkar, the handsome smith in love with Neea, but engaged to another woman; Hedda, the kindly washerwoman who cares for her grown, simple-minded son; the new innkeeper, Tyr, and his sister, Indra, who hides a mysterious secret; Jan and Jorgen, a pair of mischievous halfling twins who keep everyone on their toes; and many more.
Each story is written with its own unique style and flair. Some are humorous, while others are full of adventure and mystery, and still others tug at the heartstrings. But each one is infused with a sense of wonder, magic, coziness, and warmth that can only be found around the hearth of the Nightgate Inn.
Far to the north lies a land in black and white. A curse lies upon it, robbing its people of their courage, free will and emotion to lock them in three pendants in the hands of their leaders.
Jolette has lived just south of that land for all thirteen years of her life. But never once has she seen one of its people-until the day a Colorless boy turns up in her village, carrying one of his people's most prized possessions: the pendant of Free Will.
She quickly becomes his friend, but she has barely had time to get to know him and name him Edmian when the Colorless come for him. By sheer luck she and Edmian escape. But her village, with everyone she knows, is captured and taken to the Colorless Land.
Left to their own devices, the two set out to rescue the villagers while outrunning their own pursuers. Aid comes from a secret prince trying to save his own family from the Colorless, as well as his warrior bride. And yet the clock keeps ticking. For the Colorless' magic is slowly destroying the villagers' humanity, and the Colorless People are preparing a war against all the world.
What can two teenagers, a hidden royal, a military commander on leave, an old lady spirit, an elf and a dwarf possibly do against a power on the rise?
And what about the two married women who were captured without their daughter?
But sometimes the smallest individuals can change the course of history...
COMPLETED 9-8-2019