Sam is the most promising swordsman among this year’s crop of Paladin trainees...and knows it. Brash, cocky, and unbeatable with a sword (well, almost), Sam is the kingdom of Thule’s best hope against the violence wrought by demons. The only problem is that Sam is really Lady Samantha, daughter of the seventeenth Duke of Haywood, and if her father has his way, she’ll be marrying a Paladin, not becoming one.
But Sam has never held much interest in playing damsel-in-distress, and so she rescues herself from a lifetime of boredom and matrimonial drudgery.
Pity that Tristan Lyons, the Paladin assigned to train her, is none other than the hero of her childhood. He hasn’t recognized her as Lady Samantha--yet-- but if he does, he’ll take away her sword and send her packing.
Sam is not the only trainee hiding secrets: Braeden is a half-demon with a dark past that might be unforgivable.
Sam, Braeden and Tristan set out for the western coast, charged with rooting out an infestation of demons that has made the West unlivable. As they travel, they uncover a deep-seated corruption of power that threatens to derail everything they stand for. Rebellion stirs, led by a rival faction of warriors who tempt Sam to join them with an irresistible offer. A war between men is coming, and Sam must pick a side. Will saving the kingdom cost her life -- or just her heart?
Reminiscent of Mulan, but with a medieval fantasy twist, Paladin is a tale of adventure, action, and romance.
As the plague spreads further throughout the northern realm of Raylinette, guards pile corpses ever higher under the burning flames and citizens rage through the streets willing to do almost anything to stay alive. The plague is getting stronger. Zombies are supposed to be vulnerable to fire, but they are lasting increasingly longer.
The Prime Minister has died leaving the Princess Qélla Darkstar in charge, but struggling between her duties, a profound sense of failure, and the desire to hide her demonic identity, she lets her indifference seduce her into inaction.
When Time Master Chess Delvingson arrives determined to stop the demonic power behind the disease, Qélla feels increasingly pressured to do something even as she is more afraid of her secrets being revealed, for the Delvingsons are what Qélla calls faithful--that is, they are good Paladins responsible for guarding against evil. Evil like her.
Chess Delvingson has left behind his own time and with it, a dark power closer to his heart than he would ever realize. Chess's android, Sera, has foretold that the apocalypse is only a few years away. Even in Qélla's time, no one knows who brought the apocalypse. But, they know the Dark Sword of Amorithia, a demonic blade that sucks the soul from anyone defeated by it including those who wield it, all except for the one person that will bring the apocalypse, will have a role.
Chess is powerless to stop what is coming. It is inevitable, but he believes there is a reason he has been sent to the future to save Raylinette from its plague.
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This story may contain dark themes and violence.