Just as quiet rumors begin to whisper that an ancient evil might be arising, the Lord Protector of the kingdom goes missing. Four years later, Mathilda Hawksthorne finds herself leaving the safety of Crosshawk because events dictate the need for her to prove to king and country that she can carry on in her father's stead. After fighting for her inheritance, she is ordered to solve the mystery surrounding the disaster that had befallen the man's mission. While she already has companions willing to assist her, another is commanded to also help her with the task. Garin Von Bos, two parts honorable and one part jaded, does his best to keep her out of trouble. He manages to do so until they stumble upon a powerful gemstone known as the Dragon's Heart, which changes their lives forever.