Umbra

Volume One of the Darkest Days

Soren thinks it will be easy. He has acted cowardly, but he has the tools to set it right. He trades in precious salt and can wield its spectacular magic. The creatures of the sea overrun his village, but he knows where to buy allies and armies.

But the monsters of the west smell the salt etched into his flesh. They stalk him through the darkness and swallow his dreams of knights and kings. Alone with his hired thug and bribed translator, the beasts of the forest maroon him in a crumbling empire.

It's his fault for running when he should have stayed and fought. And now their chants follow him through his nightmares:

F'ngl mglw'nfh Y'hll wgh'ngl