The Longsword Chronicles Series by G.J. Kelly

Book OneGawain, second son of Davyd, King of Raheen, turns 18, and is promptly banished from his homeland for a period of one year and one day. Stunned, he departs the land of his birth, high atop an impregnable plateau, and ventures into the strange world of the lowlands.During his banishment, a ritual which must be undergone by all royal crowns of Raheen, he travels the lowlands incognito, and soon his martial skills are called upon in defence of himself and others... moreBook OneGawain, second son of Davyd, King of Raheen, turns 18, and is promptly banished from his homeland for a period of one year and one day. Stunned, he departs the land of his birth, high atop an impregnable plateau, and ventures into the strange world of the lowlands.During his banishment, a ritual which must be undergone by all royal crowns of Raheen, he travels the lowlands incognito, and soon his martial skills are called upon in defence of himself and others. More, he is staggered to learn that the lowlands are all but paralysed by fear and terror at the hands of Ramoths, a strange and vile cult that seems to afflict the kingdoms with utter impunity.Gawain meets all the kindred races of man. A chance encounter at the edge of the forest of Elvendere introduces him to Elayeen, a haunting elfin beauty destined to become a vital part of Gawain's future. He meets dwarves too, becoming fast friends with Rak of Tarn, a quiet diplomat from the Black Hills of Threlland. Yet, everywhere he travels, the Ramoth curse has been before him…At the end of his period of banishment, Gawain rides for home, Raheen, intent upon alerting his father to the danger posed by the Ramoth. But it is too late. When Gawain crests the sole route to the top of the plateau, he finds Raheen gone, blasted to ashes...In the ruins of Raheen's castle keep, in the great hall, Gawain finds the Sword of Justice, the only object to have survived the terrifying devastation of his land. He draws the ancient blade, and swearing vengeance and justice in the name of Raheen, and hard of heart, returns to the lowlands... less

Book TwoWith the Kings' Council at Ferdan reeling from the sight of Morloch and the shock of betrayal by wizards of the D'ith, the King of Raheen rides in haste once again to his devastated homeland. There, he hopes, the wizard Allazar will discover the reason for Morloch's dread on learning the true identity of the Longsword DarkSlayer, Gawain, King of Ashes... moreBook TwoWith the Kings' Council at Ferdan reeling from the sight of Morloch and the shock of betrayal by wizards of the D'ith, the King of Raheen rides in haste once again to his devastated homeland. There, he hopes, the wizard Allazar will discover the reason for Morloch's dread on learning the true identity of the Longsword DarkSlayer, Gawain, King of Ashes. And there, he hopes, that reason, if revealed, can be used against Morloch and the dark armies of the north gathering in the wastelands beyond the farak gorin.But some things are, perhaps, best left shrouded in the mists of myth. The nature of the conflict between the kindred races of Man and Morloch is about to change forever... less

Book Three of the Longsword Chronicles.And Morloch is still far from defeated...Come at once to Shiyanath. Urgent.So said the message from Brock of Callodon, propelling Gawain and Elayeen along a path abandoned a thousand years ago, a path no man or elf has dared to tread since the mysterious destruction of the great city of Calhaneth lying in ruins at its end... moreBook Three of the Longsword Chronicles.And Morloch is still far from defeated...Come at once to Shiyanath. Urgent.So said the message from Brock of Callodon, propelling Gawain and Elayeen along a path abandoned a thousand years ago, a path no man or elf has dared to tread since the mysterious destruction of the great city of Calhaneth lying in ruins at its end.Morloch’s armies are mustering in the north, Elayeen remains enthralled by the sight of the Eldenelves, and a wizard of the D’ith holds the key to their speedy arrival in Elvendere where, Gawain hopes, his queen will be restored to him, and the reason for Brock’s ‘urgency’ will be revealed.Hope, even when it’s of the futile variety, is still hope. And Morloch is still far from defeated. less

Book Four of The Longsword ChroniclesMorloch's army of thousands is preparing to advance from the north, elves have abandoned the lands east of Elvendere, and rogue wizards are at large wreaking havoc behind allied lines. Elayeen's Sight is desperately needed but seems to be fading fast, Allazar's knowledge of Morloch's Pangoricon is becoming increasingly erratic and elusive, and the kindred crowns are entirely ignorant of the existence of creatures dark wizard-made and the threat they pose... moreBook Four of The Longsword ChroniclesMorloch's army of thousands is preparing to advance from the north, elves have abandoned the lands east of Elvendere, and rogue wizards are at large wreaking havoc behind allied lines. Elayeen's Sight is desperately needed but seems to be fading fast, Allazar's knowledge of Morloch's Pangoricon is becoming increasingly erratic and elusive, and the kindred crowns are entirely ignorant of the existence of creatures dark wizard-made and the threat they pose.Banished from Elvendere, the three of Raheen and their companions ride for Ferdan, and the pitiful forces of the Kindred Army gathered there waiting for Gawain to lead them to war.The Battle of Far-gor will determine the fate of the kindred races, and only Gawain believes there is still the faintest ember of hope for them all. less

Book Five of The Longsword ChroniclesCelebrations in the aftermath of victory at the Battle of Far-gor sweep the lands south of the Teeth, but for Gawain there is to be no joy, and his rest is short-lived. Revelation follows revelation, dread and ancient secrets are revealed, and the lands must stand and fight together once more, though this time, in secrecy. While hope shines brightest east of Elvendere, there can be no light without shadow

Book Six of The Longsword Chronicles.With the Orbquest bound for Calhaneth, Elayeen is left alone but for her friends in Tarn. Ancient compulsions inflicted by Sword and Circle still demand to be heard, and spies are everywhere... moreBook Six of The Longsword Chronicles.With the Orbquest bound for Calhaneth, Elayeen is left alone but for her friends in Tarn. Ancient compulsions inflicted by Sword and Circle still demand to be heard, and spies are everywhere. Hunted by Morloch and by a Toorseneth bent on vengeance for the loss of the Sceptre and the return of the Sight, Elayeen flees Tarn, hoping to draw her enemies from her friends, and hoping her enemies will expend what resources they possess in a fruitless search for the Queen of Raheen.With only Meeya and Valin for company, Elayeen embarks on the journey south, a journey which, she believes, will end with her facing the single most important decision of her life.But the warnings of elder times should never be ignored. Elayeen is riding into dangers far greater than those she fled in Tarn, and the path she has chosen can only lead to the end of Elayeen Rhiannon Seraneth ní Varan Raheen. less

Book 7 Last Ridings, the name given to the small patch of Arrun where dwell the remaining survivors of Raheen. It is here Gawain's Hall is to be built, here Elayeen hopes to build a home and unearth a fortress in which to protect her unborn son, here the new Prince of Raheen is to be born and raised. But the worms will not cease their squirming and Gawain cannot ignore them. Croptop Hill, Armun Tal, Salaman Goth, the fall of Pellarn. The Orb of Arristanas and the Shadow of Calhaneth... moreBook 7 Last Ridings, the name given to the small patch of Arrun where dwell the remaining survivors of Raheen. It is here Gawain's Hall is to be built, here Elayeen hopes to build a home and unearth a fortress in which to protect her unborn son, here the new Prince of Raheen is to be born and raised. But the worms will not cease their squirming and Gawain cannot ignore them. Croptop Hill, Armun Tal, Salaman Goth, the fall of Pellarn. The Orb of Arristanas and the Shadow of Calhaneth. The Battle of Far-gor, and a Morgmetal spike buried in a tunnel beneath the farak gorin and hidden for 1300 years. The pieces are coming together, and while all eyes are drawn now to the west, Gawain knows nothing good comes from the north. What he does not expect is what awaits him in the east... less

Book 8 Tension mounts in Last Ridings. Brock's planned advance across the Ostern to liberate Pellarn fast approaches, and Gawain is plagued by a great snake of a worm which writhes relentlessly, robbing him of sleep, distracting him by day. Allazar frets too; he has solved an ancient enigma, and neither he nor the King of Ashes can withstand the forces of elder times compelling them once more to action. There are questions to be asked, and there is only one place where the answers may be found... moreBook 8 Tension mounts in Last Ridings. Brock's planned advance across the Ostern to liberate Pellarn fast approaches, and Gawain is plagued by a great snake of a worm which writhes relentlessly, robbing him of sleep, distracting him by day. Allazar frets too; he has solved an ancient enigma, and neither he nor the King of Ashes can withstand the forces of elder times compelling them once more to action. There are questions to be asked, and there is only one place where the answers may be found. With the threat of Eldenbeard and Eldengaze hovering close by, Gawain takes his leave of Elayeen and Last Ridings for what they hope will be a brief and final time. Time, Elayeen declares, has finally caught up with them. Time, Gawain hopes, for the ending of the worms which plague him still. less