SHADOW REALM

The city of Thaan has fallen to the tyrannical sway of the Regent. His dark, evil power creates a shadow over the land.

But still, the quest for the lost Princess Livia continues. The only hope for Ythan now lies at the end of the Pilgrim Path, in restoring Livia to the Empty Throne

Now, Krispin, Alwald, Ognam, and Gambal have reached the mage's tower and seek a way to find the princess. In trade for the Esav found earlier in their quest, they receive the knowledge that the princess has been hidden in the Shadow Realm, a dark and mysterious place that not many survive. Krispin and his companions forge on, but their thoughts are drawn to home.

Meanwhile, back in Ythan, the Regent and his Witchfinders continue to close their vice-like grip around the kingdom. The Regent is ailed by some sort of evil magic and searches desperately to find a cure while hidings his ailment.

He seeks the Waters of Ythan, a cure all that is also foretold to wake the Princess But are the rumours of the Waters true? Or is the foretold cure a groundless myth? On the answer hangs the hopes of all the Kingdom and the dreams of four men, set to save a belaboured princess.

Marc Alexander is a former Fleet Street journalist and a consultant editor of Heritage Magazine. For many years he contributed a regular history column to Majesty magazine. His books include The Outrageous Queens, Haunted Churches and Abbeys of Britain, Royal Murder and A Companion to the Royal Heritage of Britain.