The Gods Within Series by J.L. Doty

Prisoner of a clan of witches, a young boy clashes with the evil old matriarch. Can he master her magic and survive?Rat is no ordinary thiefA small feral child, he steals what he can to feed the gnawing hunger in his gut, though nothing can satisfy the hunger in his soul.But he has a special talent that the wizards and witches of the clans covet, so Clan Elhiyne abducts him and gives him the name Morgin... morePrisoner of a clan of witches, a young boy clashes with the evil old matriarch. Can he master her magic and survive?Rat is no ordinary thiefA small feral child, he steals what he can to feed the gnawing hunger in his gut, though nothing can satisfy the hunger in his soul.But he has a special talent that the wizards and witches of the clans covet, so Clan Elhiyne abducts him and gives him the name Morgin.Can he escape the scheming of the clan's calculating and manipulative leader, the matriarchal old witch Olivia?And as he grows into manhood, can he survive the inter-clan rivalries, and the hatred that smolders between Olivia and her arch-enemy Valso, leader of Clan Decouix? less

Morgin finds himself living two lives. When he goes to sleep at night he dreams of a life twelve hundred years in the past. But it's not like a dream, it's more like another life, for when he goes to sleep in that other life, he awakes again in this one, still a hunted man. In the far past he's a mercenary Benesh'ere warrior hired out to one of the twelve Legions of Angels fighting in the Great Clan Wars... moreMorgin finds himself living two lives. When he goes to sleep at night he dreams of a life twelve hundred years in the past. But it's not like a dream, it's more like another life, for when he goes to sleep in that other life, he awakes again in this one, still a hunted man. In the far past he's a mercenary Benesh'ere warrior hired out to one of the twelve Legions of Angels fighting in the Great Clan Wars. And there he fights alongside, and against, legendary figures from the far past of the Shahot. He gets to see firsthand the truth of the Wars, and the truth of, or rather the lies behind, the legends that every clansman has heard of since childhood. And the Benesh'ere warrior has his own memories of a peaceful childhood disrupted by the Wars, and centuries spent at the forges shaping the steel for a legendary blade, a blade without flaw, a self-forged blade. Beware the power of the self-forged blade. less

Now a Benesh'ere slave, every whiteface in the tribe hungers for Morgin's death. But he is Harriok's property, and while Harriok remains in a coma, a victim of the venom of the sand cat's sixth claw, the warriors wait and bide their time. As Morgin accompanies them on the March, an affinity for steel is slowly awakening within him, and he truly fears the truths his growing knowledge may reveal... moreNow a Benesh'ere slave, every whiteface in the tribe hungers for Morgin's death. But he is Harriok's property, and while Harriok remains in a coma, a victim of the venom of the sand cat's sixth claw, the warriors wait and bide their time. As Morgin accompanies them on the March, an affinity for steel is slowly awakening within him, and he truly fears the truths his growing knowledge may reveal. Rhianne, thinking Morgin is dead, leads a lonely life as a hedge witch in a small village near the Lake of Sorrows. But as she matures, her powers grow far beyond those of a mere village healer. She now has a personal connection to the deadly talismanic sword Morgin brought onto the Mortal Plane, and as she begins to glean its true nature, she fears the fate of all mankind. As summer approaches and the heat of the sands of the Munjarro grows unbearable, the Benesh'ere are in the midst of their annual migration to the Lake of Sorrows. During the two days it takes to cross the Plains of Quam, their column is repeatedly attacked by companies of Kulls, a game of sport for the halfmen. Morgin fights beside the Benesh'ere to protect the column, and he reluctantly develops empathy for the whitefaces and their way of life. Morgin knows he must overcome Jerst and Blesset's hatred of him, and he regrets the heated words he threw at them shortly before the battle at Csairne Glen. But his only recourse may be to fight them in individual, mortal combat. And as he tries to find a resolution to that situation, he has no idea that he must again face Salula. For thrice and thrice must a blade be born. less

Morgin is trapped in the Kingdom of Dreams, the realm of the Unnamed King. He knows he must somehow get back to the Mortal Plane to save France and Rhianne, and he's frustrated that he doesn't know the way. He decides to find the Unnamed King, for surely His Majesty could show him the way, and maybe even tell him his true name.Rhianne is held captive in Durin by Valso, and while he treats her well, he's trying to seduce her, to make her a slave to his whims with powerful compulsion spells... moreMorgin is trapped in the Kingdom of Dreams, the realm of the Unnamed King. He knows he must somehow get back to the Mortal Plane to save France and Rhianne, and he's frustrated that he doesn't know the way. He decides to find the Unnamed King, for surely His Majesty could show him the way, and maybe even tell him his true name.Rhianne is held captive in Durin by Valso, and while he treats her well, he's trying to seduce her, to make her a slave to his whims with powerful compulsion spells. When she sleeps she finds herself in the Kingdom of Dreams, seeing Morgin through Rhiannead's eyes, and they're strongly attracted to one another.Valso can sense that the sword is no longer on the Mortal Plane, so he concludes it must be in the Kingdom of Dreams. He calls upon ancient enemies from a far distant past, and sends them to the Kingdom of Dreams to assault the realm of the Unnamed King. In her dreams Rhianne warns Morgin, and they both must help defend Sabian, the castle, and seat of power, of the Unnamed King.Back on the Mortal Plane the Lesser Clans are on the verge of all-out war, which will only weaken them, and leave them fodder for attack by Valso and the Greater Clans. Is Olivia really that foolish?Will Morgin find his true name, for without it he cannot defeat the Dark God, and all the Mortal Plane will suffer for eternity? less