Prologue

 

Prologue 2675 AV

Ravenger Quixxon placed the crimson egg in its earthen grave, relieved it was the final one to hide. Even now, the sounds of battle grew close, and her troops were being overrun. After covering the hole with loose dirt, she used a nearby broken tree stump to disguise it. With satisfaction, she observed the clearing appeared undisturbed. There were no traces of the four hidden holes.

She harbored no regrets for attempting to lead her troops back to the empire. Her superiors ordered her to bury all ten eggs in the chasm, but that made little sense to her. Although the vast enemy forces overtook her group, the risk was worth it. By separating these eggs from the rest, it ensured their safety, even if the empire didn’t know their location.

Victory and escape were both unobtainable, but she drew her jagged sword and steeled herself to fight and slay as many enemies as possible. Faith in the prophecy cloaked her in an invisible shield. Someday, the Vragoths would charge the scepter, and Mazzinoth’s children would arise. Death did not scare her because she was confident their ultimate triumph was inevitable.