M.J. Ryder is an author and academic based in Lancaster (UK). He has a PhD in English Literature, and passion for all things science fiction and fantasy. His website is www.mjryder.net. 

Phae is a girl unlike any other. Her father is the most powerful mage in the realm, and her mother is a member of the Lintari – a small, secretive band of warriors bound to the earth as its sworn guardians. With such powerful blood inside her, growing up was never going to be easy.

But when her powers bring about catastrophe and the death of her tutor, Phae finally decides she’s had enough. With her unstable magic threatening to bring about even more danger to those she loves, Phae flees her home on the Magical Isle to seek sanctuary on the mainland. Only there does she realise her problems have barely just begun…

The Darkest Hour

Kiera watched as the young trooper stumbled his way to the door. She had been watching him for a while now and had already marked the group of sniggering fools who had spiked his drink. He was going to have a mighty headache come the morn that was for sure. She didn't envy anyone the task of reporting to the barracks the next day with a hangover like that. That was when the real initiation began.


Kiera rubbed her hands together to try and get some warmth into her fingers. It sure was getting colder outside  and to think it was Midsummer's day! Something was wrong, she knew that much. And it wasn't just the weather that was giving her cause for concern. For weeks now, she had been feeling "hollow"  empty almost  though at first she just put it down to home-sickness. It sure had been a long time since she had last been home, since she had last seen Callum and Phae.


Chapter 30