Shadow-walker

Ean, a shadow-walker’s apprentice, only has two months left before he must take the final trials. Hestillcan’t catch an arrow. Growing desperate, he accepts a treacherous offer: assassinate the Crown Prince in exchange for his graduation. He is promptly captured in the attempt. Instead of execution, he is released on a blood-oath to protect that same Prince on a dangerous quest to find a magical sword. As they journey, Ean finds himself thrust into the role of protector, advisor, and friend to the Prince and party. That trust will surely be shattered if they ever learn of his crimes. Battling spies, Wildmen, and his own guilt, Ean struggles with the unexpected choice in front of him—remain the cynical assassin he always thought he was, or become the noble hero, even if that means sacrificing himself for the Prince. But Ean isn’t the only one keeping secrets. Someone manipulated him onto this quest for a purpose of their own. The only question is: will Ean live long enough to discover it? What to expect: - Anit-hero lead - An epic quest through breath-taking landscapes, hidden villages, and astounding cities - A satisfying redemption arc - Action, adventure, danger, and battles - Some light martial arts - Found family dynamics - A surprising amount of singing - Maybe some dragons? This story is completely written, minus some light editing I do before each post. It stands at 130,000 words. New chapters are posted Tuesdays and Thursdays.