Future's Birth

Back in the age where they belong, Jack, Tanner, Allie, and Gefnar have bid farewell to their friends in the lawless lands of Varbius, only to encounter an old acquaintance; one who extends to them a curious invitation from the eagleblood king, Shanedir. Intrigued, and assured that the requested detour will not delay them long, the Heroes of Dragon's Nest agree to meet with Shanedir, a man strangely intent on uniting all the half-breed nations under a banner of peace. But Shanedir's vision may prove too good to be true. Forces are at play both for and against the half-breed alliance, and not all may have the decency to show their true face. As Shanedir's honored guests seek to uncover the truth, both of the land beneath their feet and of concealed plans contrary to Shanedir's, they begin to learn that interspecies relations can be simpler, and yet far more unpredictable, than they could have grasped.

Wizened and invigorated by their losses, fears, and ultimate triumph in the elven ruins of Kadason, the Heroes of Dragon's Nest seek to continue the mission of their looming benefactor by traveling on to the magic-infused stronghold of Falcon Crest. Arriving in the great city, however, they find its people as distrusting of outsiders - especially those of half-breed blood - as they are enamored with their protectors, the Samanir Order and its champions. Allie, meanwhile, soon unearths details of her past that throw everything she thinks she's learned about her nature into question, as well as the course of her future. With new allies made and even the most trusted of heroes possibly concealing secrets to shake the foundation of Falcon Crest and Covorum beyond, each of Entohika's emissaries will be forced to question what they value most, before their own inaction might claim it from them.

Falcon Crest and its hidden machinations have taken much from the Heroes of Dragon's Nest, but the cost just might not have been for nothing. Change is on the horizon in the form of holding the powerful to task and the possible formation of a new royal lineage. The burden of completing the task for ancient, now-revealed entity, however, soon pushes Jack, Tanner, Allie, and Gefnar back out across a war-torn continent, and new obstacles arise. Samanir forces are now guided by a different hand, one that seeks to gather half-breed factions for peace talks, in hopes of bringing the fighting to a speedy close. But many have plans for the future of all half-breeds, including new allies and old enemies. And if Jack is to keep her people, both those of blood and those of duty sworn, from harm, she may have to take irrevocable steps on the path fate has laid before her.