Darker Than the Storm

Freda Warrington's 'orphan novel' is actually part of the Blackbird series, telling the story of what happened to Ashurek and his love, Silvren, after the end of "A Blackbird in Silver Darkness" and before "A Blackbird in Amber Twilight."

Prince Ashurek of Gorethria looked up amazed. The towers of Niankan-Siol soared skywards, all blue and gold and glass, seemingly as light as air. Walkways, weightless and swaying, threaded among the pinnacles and spires, while winged creatures and air transports flitted between the glittering heights. But Niankan-Siol was a living illusion. The towers were deep-rooted in the despised under-city where an enslaved people huddled in earth-bound decay.

While beyond the teeming city, the whole land was dissolving into Chaos and darkness as the swirling demonic energy of the Maelstrom tore the sorcery-doomed world of Jhensit apart. Prince Ashurek, grieving for Silvren, his lost love, looked up and shuddered.