THE RUNES OF WAR SAGA
Runes of War: The Book of Torra Alta, Book 1
The Runes of War
Torra Alta is under attack.
Threatened by a new ice age, the barbaric tribes of the vast Northern Trunda join forces under the bloody rule of warrior chief Morbak to form the Vaalakan army. As they set out to achieve dominion of the world, only the frontier castle of Torra Alta stands in their way.
For a thousand years Torra Alta has stood triumphant and unconquerable, perched on a pillar of rock where dragons once had their lair. As Baron Branwolf prepares his defences, ominous sounds emerge from the labyrinth of dragon-built tunnels beneath the castle. Against the baron’s orders, his son, Caspar, accompanies the party despatched to seal off the tunnels. When Caspar discovers an ancient dragon’s hoard of treasure, the magical light of a moonstone proves too tempting and Caspar takes it.
But alas, it is no ordinary moonstone – it is the Druid’s Eye, and if it falls into the wrong hands, Morbak will be invincible. Only the long -abandoned Runes of War can save Torra Alta, and only Caspar with his newfound power, can find them …
Runes of War: The Book of Torra Alta, Book 2
The Lost Runes
Caspar travels South into Belbidia with his companions Hal and Brid, straight into the heart of the New Faith, the enemy of Brid’s Goddess. The trio trail Vaalakan spies, seeking out the Druids Eye – the Egg- in all its glory. The Eggs power alone can keep the fortress of Torra Alta safe.
But in the land of the Inquisition, all trace of ancient lore has been stamped out, including a sect of mute priestesses known as the Keepers. As the fate of Torra Alta hangs in the balance, Caspar must race to find the Lost Runes the Keepers guarded, or the Eye may never be found …
Runes of War: The Book of Torra Alta, Book 3
The Runes of Sorcery
Whoever holds the Egg controls the ancient animals of power: kraken, wyvern, and dragon. Whoever cracks the Egg unleashes these monsters on the world, unrestrained and beyond the control of anyone alive…
Three young Torra Altans, Caspar, Brid, and Hal, are closing in on the immemorial hiding place of the Egg. Strange wild beasts that sense their purpose follow close behind. From Yew Wood to Lake of Tears, spices and enemies pursue them. The Mother Goddess has promised that once the Egg is brought to their ancient home in the North, the starving hordes of Vaalakans besieging the castle will be driven back.
But creatures of legend desire to be real, and time is running out.
Runes of War: The Book of Önd, Book 4
The Lament of Abalone
Three years on, the fate of Torra Alta and Belbidida hangs in the balance once more.
Caspar has become entranced by the evil of the Druid’s Egg, and so is sent, with Brid, to find orphan wolflings which the dying Morrigwen declares are vital. Hal is sent to the neighbouring country of Ceolothis, as part of an escort for the Princess Cymbeline who is to marry Belbidia’s king.
Runes of War: The Book of Önd, Book 5
The Bard of Castaguard
Deadly wolves attack throughout the kingdom of Belbidia, while the king’s wife-to-be has been kidnapped. For both of these, the Barony of Torra Alta is blamed. The heroes must face magic and blood in their quests to avenge the wrongs done to them and restore the Trinity of priestesses.
Runes of War: The Book of Önd, Book 6
The Lord of Necrönd
Last volume of the Book of Ond. After the events of “The Bard of Castaguard”, the young lords of Torra Alta must fight the evil in themselves as well as those who – through deadly steel, treachery or magic – seek to destroy them and the entire kingdom. The trinity of priestesses must be reformed.
Runes of War: The Book of Man, Book 7
Dawn of a Dark Age
Prince Rollo’s world is shattered by the death of his mother, Queen Ursula. But even before he can grieve he faces the bitter disappointment of being overlooked as his mother’s heir in favour of his younger sister; as only the female line in Artor’s Royal family inherit the magical power to control the Great Bears of Artor (a talent every sovereign must possess). Seething with self loathing, grief and disappointment Rollo focuses his anger and resentment upon his father.
Deeply concerned for his son Spar decides to leave his daughter, now Artor’s Queen, and take 13 year old Rollo half way across the world to Torra Alta, his barony in Belbidia, to claim the only birthright left to him.
But fifteen years have passed since Spar left Hal and Brid as guardians of his remote fortress and in the intervening years, many things have changed. Beasts of legend have grown in strength and will. A huge golden dragon plagues the mountains and swarms of Hobs ransack the fertile plains of Belbidia.
Fourteen years ago the Chalice of Önd, was lost. A sacred artefact with the power to transfer the magic of one object to another the chalice is the only explanation for the rising threat. If this powerful weapon has fallen into the wrong hands the dawn of a dark age will come to Belbidia.
Runes of War: The Book of Man, Book 8
The Broken Chalice
Silas has fled with the broken Chalice of Önd, forcing the companions to flee into the surrounding forest, pursued and hunted by the remaining angry swarms of hobs. But their escape is slow as Isolde falls ill; the injured hand she plunged into the Chalice during the ceremony is infected and the disease is spreading rapidly, transforming her flesh into the scales of a hob. Sick with worry, Rollo decides to go after the chalice, hoping to reverse the spell, but Leaf insists on returning to aid her people convinced she can find a cure with them. Unable to agree, the company splits.
Meanwhile Torra Alta is under siege, attacked by men imbued with dragon-fire powers. It seems the attack on Belbidia is not simply a civil war, but a mass invasion.
Runes of War: The Book of Man, Book 9
The Allegiance of Man
The concluding book in a new epic fantasy trilogy by British author Jane Welch.
A lucky subterfuge has fooled the Golden Dragon into leaving Opal Island; and she has trailed the Pisceran Porpoise out to sea believing that the newly-repaired Chalice of Ond – the only hope of resurrection for her precious golden son – is hidden beneath her decks. On board, amidst the dragon-attacks, Lord Casper worries for his own son, Rollo, abandoned on the hob-infested rock. But Rollo has the real chalice in his possession and although the responsibility weighs heavily, he must find a way to elude Silas’s minions and travel across the ocean to find his father – if Isolde is ever to regain her humanity, to reunite Aranthane with his wife or save Leaf’s dying people. Rollo must learn to harness the strange power which lies unpredictably within his body to ensure that Silas’s invasion of Belbidia is stopped and that Torra Alta, the only home he has left, is rescued.
