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Hunted by an empire, haunted by prophecy—
Auren’s power could
save or destroy the world.
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Shadow Stalker – Episodes 1-6
Shadow Stalker Bundles Part 1
by Renee Scattergood
Genre: Grimdark Fantasy
“This is the first time I’ve read a serial and I
didn’t know what to expect. I was pulled into the story right away. The pacing
was cleverly crafted so that while the action had the pages turning, there was
enough back story to keep you rooted in the plot.” ~ Melissa Barker-Simpson, Author of the Morgan
and Fairchild Series
“Scattergood’s writing style is simple and straightforward and her
characters very believable.” ~
Grant Leishman, Author of Tortured Minds
“One of the best things about the series are the characters, who are
human and sympathetic. The heroine is both a tough, capable young woman, and a
naive and self-centered teenager; the tension between the two sides of her
personality as she is suddenly forced to leave childhood behind and enter into
adulthood is often well-captured, as is her ambivalent relationship with her
foster father.” ~ E.P. Clark,
Author of The Zemnian Trilogy
“Hunted by an
empire, haunted by prophecy—Auren’s power could save or destroy the world.”
The shadows are
calling—and they know her name.
For eighteen years, Auren Trask has lived under the watchful
eye of her foster father, Kado. He’s trained her in combat, wilderness
survival, and strategy, but never explained why. His strict rules and secrecy
have left her feeling trapped, desperate for freedom and a normal life with her
friends.
That all changes the night she sneaks away for a simple
camping trip. When the Galvadi Empire invades, burning villages and capturing
innocents, Auren’s world shatters. She and her friends barely escape with their
lives—thanks to Kado’s sudden appearance and skills that suggest he’s far more
than a reclusive courier.
As the Galvadi tighten their grip on the Serpent Isles,
Auren discovers she is at the center of a prophecy that has haunted the empire
for generations. She is the delohi-saqu,
a shadow stalker destined—according to Galvadi belief—to plunge the world into
darkness. To stop that future, they will hunt her without mercy.
But the truth is far more dangerous than the Galvadi know.
Auren’s powers are awakening, shadows whisper secrets in her dreams, and even
Kado can no longer shield her from the path ahead. To survive, she must
confront the terrifying legacy of the shadow stalkers and decide whether
destiny is a prison…or a weapon.
Shadow Stalker Part 1
(Episodes 1–6) launches Renee Scattergood’s dark fantasy serial, a journey
through treachery, prophecy, and the struggle between fear and hope. Perfect
for fans of epic adventure, morally
complex heroes, and worlds where light and darkness are never simple.
**Get it FREE!!**
Amazon * Ream
* Books2Read * Bookbub
* Goodreads
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Episode 3 — Shadows’ Betrayal
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Chapter 3 | The council’s secret
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“So, you mean Kado might be listening to us as we talk about this right now?”
Cali paused and nodded. “He can hear you, and possibly me if he chose to, but he likely wouldn’t. He would understand what I was saying through your thoughts, though he might perceive it differently depending on how you interpret my words, not necessarily how you were hearing them.”
That explained a lot. It also made me realise how often he overlooked my sneaking around as I grew up. How many times had I sneaked out without him stopping me? He probably knew but didn’t try to stop me. Still, he was always waiting for me when I returned home. So, technically, I never truly got away with anything.
My anger surged as another realisation struck me. How much had he observed? How much of my privacy was compromised? I spotted Kado through the window of Cathnor’s hut, so I grabbed the tomato I still held and threw it at him. It landed a few meters short.
“You missed,” Cali said, nudging me with her elbow.
“I can’t believe he never told me,” I said, still glaring at him.
Her eyebrows lifted. “Really? That surprises you?”
I rolled my eyes, even though she had a valid point. It wasn’t the first time Kado had concealed something from me. Just a month ago, I found out I was a shadow stalker and that my father was still alive. Since then, I’ve uncovered numerous secrets. I knew I needed to learn more, confront him about everything, and get the truth.
After gathering enough vegetables, we went to the storehouse for dried meat. It was built into the ground, so the visible part resembled an outhouse. However, underground, it was a different story. The dark, cold, enclosed space reminded me of being in the hole, until Cali lit the wall lantern. The room was small, no larger than Kado’s hut, with many shelves for storing food. Cali headed toward one of the shelves at the back.
I didn’t overlook that she mentioned a way to break the bond. Although I had no immediate reason to use it, the information might be helpful when I needed privacy. “So, is there any way we can hide this from them?”
“Well, yeah, if you knew how the bond was formed. But I’m sure he’d sense it and know you were up to something.” Cali gazed at me suspiciously.
Something caught her attention. She picked up what looked like a small log and sniffed it. She held it out, and I stepped towards her. Even in the faint lantern light, I noticed her cheeks flush red, which made me hesitant to smell it. She impatiently waved it towards me, so I took a quick sniff and immediately wished I hadn’t. My nose burned, and tears welled in my eyes. It likely contained a lot of hot pepper.
“What is that?”
“Spiced meat. Cathnor likes it,” she said, grimacing and sticking out her tongue.
“Yeah, I think we can leave it here.”
She laughed. “It doesn’t go in stew anyway. He enjoys slicing it and frying it with eggs.”
I gagged and grabbed some dried red meat that looked close enough to beef. “This should be good. Let’s get out of here.”
She held the meat log high like a sword. “Onward.”
“You’re insane,” I said, heading towards the stairs. The storehouse made my heart pound, and I was starting to feel light-headed, which was odd. I’d never had a problem with small spaces before.
Cali pouted as she followed me. “You’re no fun! I think you’ve been with Kado too long.”
“You mean my whole life?”
“Way too long then.”
I chuckled but held a finger to my lips as we approached Cathnor’s hut. I could have sworn I heard Selyn’s name. Cali took the hint, and we squatted as we inched towards the hut so they couldn’t see us through the window.
“Visualise yourself in the storehouse,” she whispered in my ear.
“What?”
“It’s one of those ways we can be sneaky. If he believes you’re still in there, he won’t realise you’re listening. But try not to get too emotional about anything he says. It’ll be a dead giveaway.”
She spoke so softly I barely heard her, but I got the gist. I closed my eyes, picturing myself looking through the storehouse, and listened.
“…the council thinks your bond with Auren’s mother has corrupted you, and you’re not seeing the danger she poses,” Cathnor said.
Kado snorted. “I’m the one who is corrupt, while they do everything in their power to prevent our people from having a Foramar.”
“I know. Do you know what they are up to?”
“They want Auren incapacitated,” Kado said in a low tone, then hesitated. “I believe some of them may even want her…”
I sneezed. That stupid stick of peppered meat still tickled my nose, and I couldn’t stop myself.
“Good job,” Cali whispered as the door opened.
Kado and Cathnor glared down at us.
“We got the food,” she said, a mischievous grin on her face.
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Renee Scattergood lives in Australia with her husband,
Nathan, and adult spawn (yes, that’s what they like to be called). She has
always loved fantasy and was inspired to become a storyteller by George Lucas,
but she didn’t start writing her stories until her late twenties. Now she
enjoys writing dark fantasy. She is currently working on a novel series, Shadow
Guardians of the Serpent Isles, based on her serial, Shadow Stalker, and a new
series called The Emperor’s Blades. Aside from writing, she loves reading
(fantasy, of course), watching movies with her family, and watching YouTube
Videos with her spawn. Visit her site for more information and a free copy of
Shadow Stalker Part 1 (Episodes 1 – 6): https://reneescattergood.au
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