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Blood and Shadows

  By: Dayne Edmondson

  Copyright © 2013 Dayne Edmondson

  This book is available in print at most online retailers

  License Notes

  All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed or transmitted in any form or by any means, or stored in a database or retrieval system, without prior written consent of the Author.

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are the products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales or persons living or dead is entirely coincidental.

  Publisher: Dark Star Publishing

  Edited by Athena Bedford and Jennifer Ingman

  Cover design by Larry Lonsby Jr.

  Coloring by Robert Johnston

  ISBN 13: 978-0-9897435-0-1 (Paperback edition)

  ISBN 13: 978-0-9897435-1-8 (Collector's Edition)

  ISBN 13: 978-0-9897435-3-2 (Kindle edition)

  ISBN 13: 978-0-9897435-2-5 (ePub edition)

  Acknowledgments

  This book would not have been made possible without the support that I received through Kickstarter to fund the publication process. I would like to say a special thank you to the following donors in particular:

  Thomas J. Boyle

  Mike Edmondson

  Steve and Monica Dutt

  Eugenie and Rodger Badgerow

  Breigh Edmondson-Forstner

  I would also like to thank my wife, Kate for standing by my side through all of the publication process and being supportive at every step of the way. You are my rock.

  A big thank you has to go to the people who made this book possible. Larry Lonsby Jr, thank you for your great artistic talent in creating the cover image for this novel. Athena Bedford and Jennifer Ingman, I want to thank you for your fantastic editing services. Without you, this book wouldn't be what it is today.

  Table of Contents

  Chapter 1: A Knife in the Dark

  Chapter 2: Screams

  Chapter 3: A Task

  Chapter 4: Waiting

  Chapter 5: Darkness Spreads

  Chapter 6: A Bear

  Chapter 7: The Dancing Mare

  Chapter 8: Meetings

  Chapter 9: A Song

  Chapter 10: Rumors

  Chapter 11: Leaving Town

  Chapter 12: Ambush

  Chapter 13: Dark Travels

  Chapter 14: Henry's Crossing

  Chapter 15: A Plan

  Chapter 16: The Darkness Waits

  Chapter 17: Tales of Prophecy

  Chapter 18: Justice

  Chapter 19: A New Direction

  Chapter 20: The Crossroads

  Chapter 21: Old Friends

  Chapter 22: Firestorm

  Chapter 23: The Five Daggers

  Chapter 24: The Battle Commences

  Chapter 25: A Goodbye

  Chapter 26: Memories

  Chapter 27: The Saviors

  Chapter 28: Hall of the Stars

  Chapter 29: Parting of Ways

  Epilogue

  Chapter 1: A Knife in the Dark

  How much blood will I shed tonight? How many people will die by my hand? At least none will be innocent. Such thoughts went through the mind of the veiled assassin as she surveyed the tavern from down the street. The moon hid behind the clouds, as if it knew what was to occur, leaving only the seven stars high above to faintly illuminate the veiled assassin’s lithe figure in the dark alleyway.

  By all accounts, her target was not going to submit to the authority of her master without a fight. It was a shame that so many talented killers would have to die, but such was the command of her master, and she would carry out his will.