In Medieval times, the era of knights and mythical creatures, the kingdom of Korusel has thrived in peace for a prosperous century. And then that peaceful time comes to an abrupt end a decade after the Royal Family of Oasis, the neighboring kingdom across the River Way, are assassinated and the new monarchs threaten to declare war with Korusel. When the kingdoms seem to be on the brink of war a city thief, a mere pickpocket, from the capitol city, Hyrellis, in Korusel, is thrown into the clockwork game of fate, her destiny decided by a prophecy from the very Gods themselves. Meanwhile, in Oasis, five female knights are found out and accused of being Korusel spies. The King of Oasis orders them thrown into the desert. One of them, the rightful heir to the throne, is presumed dead. Three of them never leave while two, one sold into slavery and shipped away to Korusel, and one thrown on a boat to who-knows-where, survive and play their own part in the prophecy none of them ever knew existed. When the thief falls in love with a knight and ends up meeting the Prince of Korusel the story unfolds… Battles are fought, people die, the chosen discover abilities they never knew they had, or never let themselves use, and the world as they know it may never be the same again…
Mercenary, traveller, adventurer, lover. For many moons, Ethelston travelled east to gain renown and favour amongst his peers and those who considered him an outsider.
When the opportunity to slay the famous mythical creature, the Manticore, appears, the opportunity for wealth and fame is too easy to pass up.
But with each step forward moving closer to the prize, two questions fill Ethelston's waking thoughts. Are fame and fortune really the most important objective in this quest, and is the Manticore really the biggest threat that he will have to face on this deadly adventure?
** Short story associated with the Elemental Sorceress Series **