Rebecca hadn't expected her initiation to the Path to be so dangerous. All she had wanted was the chance to find family and see for herself what her mother had always talked about. Finding her father had only been the beginning to learning about the Path's mysteries. And in the week that followed, she had seen and experienced far more than she had bargained for. Finding herself in the middle of a centuries old grudge, she had been left no choice but to stand and fight by her father's side. In the aftermath, she thought that rebuilding from the ashes and following the Path would be easier now that her Uncle's age old jealousy was gone from the world. She thought she would have the chance to learn and grow into her abilities. She should have known that there were worse things in the world than her Uncle's twisted jealousy. There are far worse things that bide their time in the Darkness, waiting for their chance to break free and unleash their hatred...

The mountain wilderness isn't a place for the meek. After decades of service to the Path he thought he had seen it all. But when a girl appears with the caravan under his protection, William finds that the Path always has more surprises and the girl is only the start of it.For the Path has a mission for him and the girl is the key to completing it. An old enemy dogs his steps as he guides the girl through her first steps along the Path, teaching her what he can while protecting her from the Darkness beyond the Path. The same Darkness that chooses this time to rise against them, championed by a new enemy.For there is nothing the Darkness desires more than to corrupt the soul of a new Ancient. Especially when that Ancient has the potential to become far more than what she seems.