The story of the From Ashes short takes place half way through book one of the From Ashes novelization trilogy.

Claybourne Jayde is a young commanding military officer in the medieval realm of Aegika, a continental island ruled by a monarchic Crown King. As an expert swordsman and a successful strategist, Clay is propelled into high standing and prestige amongst the royal elite.

When Clay returns from a battle in the North, he is assigned to be Princess Rhetara’s Praetorian Guard, (the radiant and beautiful eldest daughter of the Crown King,) he uncovers a conspiracy involving a vigilante outlaw known as the Ghost Knight, a rebel who is building an army in hiding. After a bloody encounter with the Ghost Knight, Rhetara is kidnapped by the rebels and Clay’s best friend Sylvan is killed at Clay’s own hand.

By order of the King to find Rhetara and kill or capture the Ghost Knight, Clay tracks them to the outskirts of the Disodeon Darklands - an impossibly black desert in the heart of Aegika. No light can reach the Darklands, a terrifying vacuum that few have ever dared enter.

While spying on the rebels he is cornered and captured, held captive in a makeshift camp at the edge of the Blueleaf Forest- not far from Clay’s childhood home. While Clay comes to grips that the rebellion isn’t what it seems, a malevolent force waits for an opportunity to strike...

THIS IS WHERE OUR STORY BEGINS