Before the series began, and before Paladin Carison Destine is known as the best of any of the Paladins of the Realm. And before the tale of his fighting an entire dragon horde and the Butcher Lemore is legendary. His place in the histories of the Realm, along with his companions, is assured. 

But how did his story begin? 

This tale is part of the answer to that question. We go back now to a time when Carison Destine was just a dragonslayer for hire, gaining his own reputation by his own two hands, along with his constant companion and lover. 

Janetha Sapphire. 

In a backwater town in the Third Kingdom, Carison meets the man who was Paladin before him, Marsden Ullahu. He quickly learns that not all heroes live up to their name. Marsden hires Carison and Janetha to help him on one simple task. Find a dragon, kill the dragon. Simple. 

Only, this is no ordinary dragon. This is supposedly one of the extinct Whitescales. Nasty, territorial dragons who breathe acid. Janetha knows the money is good for such a simple job but that's what bothers Carison. 

What isn't Marsden telling them?