Prologue

Soren, the great king of Eldoria, rose from the throne, disturbed.

"I'm telling you, my Lord!" The dwarf mercenary squealed face down with Draven's foot on his back. "Old Malachai, along with a chimera, in the land of humans. I saw it!"

Soren turned his back to everyone and reached for the golden cord around his neck, which held a round crystal pendant. He felt the pendant vibrate. He didn't need to look to see how it was. That piece of crystal always contained a piece of the sea, with turbulent waves in an intense blue. Was there any connection between the story told by the dwarf and the woman that Soren sought? That's what the crystal seemed to indicate.

"I don't know if we should listen to a mercenary, Lord the King." Draven tightened his grip on the creature even more, and its groans echoed through the hall. "It's the word of a bandit."

"Yes, I am just a bandit. What other place have they given me in this cursed society?" The dwarf's shrill voice made the King turn to them. "But I risked my freedom and my life to bring this information to the King."

"And you'll do that without asking for something in return?" Draven scoffed.

"I am undesirable, sir. I fight for my life every day. And this information I bring is important to you. I could have sold it to anyone, but I did what was right. Why shouldn't I be rewarded?"

Disgust appeared on Draven's face, who spat near the dwarf's face.

"Stop!" Soren ordered. "Release him."

The dwarf got up with difficulty, adjusted his filthy clothes, and the thinning hair that mingled with the hairs of his ears.

"What is your name?" The king approached and stood before him.

"Keldan Eagle-Eye, my King."

"I will pay for the information, and also for you to take Draven and his men there." The king ignored when the dwarf and the warrior exchanged looks full of hatred. "For now, you will be kept as our guest, under the guard of experienced warriors. If you try to escape, I cannot be responsible for your safety."

The dwarf bowed before King Soren and left guided by the guards.

Draven approached the king.

"Should I kill Malachai, or bring him alive, for you to kill him yourself?"

"Either way. I care little about this man." The king put his hands on Draven's shoulders. "I need you to find the Chimera for me. Bring her to me without a scratch." He added.

The warrior's face was filled with incredulity.

"Are you really thinking that..." Draven had difficulty controlling himself. "Lord, you need to forget this accursed prophecy. We have brought before you every woman with magical blood that we could find. Besides, if the woman is with Malachai, she might be a traitor like him."

"We'll have to find out. But there is something, I feel it. Find her for me."

Then the King gave an order to his secretary.

"Bring Twyla Duskryn here."

Draven had no choice but to bow to the King, leave the throne room, and prepare for his next mission.