Books in the Those Who Lived by the Sword series

Jayden and his best friend Tony are just trying to survive the seventh grade. These young boys are doing their best to stay out of trouble in the small town of Eiréné. After a hard day of studying and detention, Jayden closes his eyes for a peaceful nap. When his eyes open next, his hometown has become host to a war zone. Together, Jayden and Tony survive the night and escape into the Dragon Mountains. When the dust settles, Jayden discovers that his Father gave his life to save as many people as he could.Stricken by grief, Jayden and Tony will spend the next seven years training at the Dragon Monastery. After his twentieth birthday and receiving the rank of Dragon Warrior, Jayden decides to set out on his own. His goal is to discover why his hometown was destroyed and his innocence was lost. Guided by a sense of duty and the desire for vengeance flowing deep within his soul, he takes his first steps on a journey that will take him across the globe.When he is rejoined by his best friend, they revisit their hometown of Eiréné. As they retrace their old footsteps, they discover that Jayden's father was more than just the local handyman. A greater plot is underway that will require strength of character, and a little bit of magic, to stop.The further they travel, the greater the difficulty becomes. Jayden discovers the truth, that his father was protecting an object made by the Elders, a legendary key that could grant power to whomever decided to use it. With his band of companions, they traverse across mountains, land, and sea, to find The Key. Jayden desires to do what is right and to protect mankind, but his lust for blood and vengeance threatens to derail him and his ultimate mission. Will he overcome his desire for revenge and destroy The Key? Or will his bloodlust lead him down a road from which he will never return?