The 13th Paladin

Ahren's life consists of being beaten up by his drunkard father or bullied by the village lads. But at the annual suitability tests for apprenticeships, the young boy finds himself selected by Falk, the guardian of the forest, to be his apprentice and his world is turned upside down.

Ahren can hardly believe his luck. His normal life consists of being beaten up by his drunkard father or bullied by the village lads. But at the annual suitability tests for apprenticeships, the young boy finds himself selected by Falk, the guardian of the forest, to be his apprentice and his world is turned upside down. From his new master he learns the skills of archery and how to fight the Dark Ones. And then, on the day of the Spring Ceremony there is another unexpected turn of events. He touches the Stone of the Gods and it illuminates for the first time ever. 

Two Einhans have been found but the third is still at large. Ahren and his companions have to traverse a kingdom plagued by unrest, sail along the treacherous east coast of Jorath and reach the dwarf enclave of Silver Cliff. Falk, Ahren's master hopes to find in its depths the third Einhan, a dwarf friend from his mercenary days, and to win him over for the Ritual of Naming that awaits his apprentice. To gain the dwarf's assistance, they must help him in his solitary watch, that tradition of the little people which allows a dwarf to attain his own individual name.  

Hardly have Ahren and his fellow adventurers returned to Deepstone following his Naming as Thirteenth Paladin when troubling news forces them into action again. They learn through the Ancients that one of their kind, the Paladin Bergen Olgitram, along with his band of mercenaries, the Blue Cohorts, are being besieged within the Brazen City by the headstrong Sun Emperor. 

The siege of the Brazen City has been lifted and the Paladin Bergen remains free. Following their victory, Ahren and his companions continue on their travels, this time to the Southern Jungles in search of information regarding the whereabouts of the female Paladin, Sunju. The journey is long and dangerous. Not only must they traverse the Nameless Desert and the untamed primeval forest, but hired assassins are hot on their heels along the Spear Path. And to top it all, the consequences of Jelninolan's extended absence from Evergreen could be fatal to her....

Ahren can hardly believe his luck. His apprenticeship finally comes to an end, and Khara's interest in him is growing by the minute. He and his companions leave the Southern Jungles and sail westward, this time in search of two Paladins, who are apparently living a peaceful existence on one of the Isles of the Cutlass Sea. Yet their quest proves full of difficulties, for a war among the pirates has transformed the Cutlass Sea into a bubbling cauldron, hiding its own tragic drama.

 Things are coming to a head for Ahren and his companions. It is true that they have won the Paladins Fisker and Aluna over to their cause in the campaign against the Adversary, but the Pall Pillar is going through an ominous change. 

Time is running out for Ahren as he and Khara leave their companions under cover of darkness and make their way to the Eternal Empire. The Pall Cloud is spreading relentlessly, yet the full complement of 13 Paladins have still not gathered together. But the couple are finding it impossible to find a way through to the notoriously draconian and reclusive empress, and all their attempts to enlist her support in the war against the Adversary seem doomed to failure once Ahren falls into the clutches of Quin-Wa's Peace Sentinels. 

The Thirteenth Paladin and his companions are finally reunited with each other and have found a worthy ally in the Eternal Empress—another Paladin who will take part in the war against the Adversary. But the effects of Ahren's journey through the empire have left their mark on him. And so, they all set off to Thousand Halls, the original home of the dwarfs, in the hope of finding the mysterious Father of the Mountain who will surely help Ahren in his recovery. If all goes to plan, the nations of Jorath will at last unite. Yet Ahren and his companions have underestimated the enemy....