Chapter 1
Lexia was nervous. She had to go and see Lucas, the village elder, but had no idea why. She leaned over and absent-mindedly scratched Demone behind the ear.
It had been six months since Lexia had found him abandoned on the deserted High Plains. She had been out collecting wild herbs to use with her potions when she heard the lion cub's plaintive calling from behind a tangle of thorn bushes. She had taken him home and nursed him carefully back to health and now they were inseparable.
She rose slowly, pulled on her woollen cape, fastened the brass clasp, stepped out into the cold night air and made her way across the village to the meeting hall. As she knocked on the door to Lucas' chambers she felt apprehensive at not knowing what lay in store for her.
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Lexia stood at the crossroads. The meeting with Lucas was preying heavily on her mind. He had asked her to go on a perilous quest to find the Golden Sword of Naviea. For some time the village had been threatened by the red, fire-breathing dragon that came every new moon bringing with it death and destruction. Only the Naviean sword could bring an end to its deathly roar.
Now, armed only with her trusty bow and arrow, and her magic herbs in a leather pouch, she wondered which way she should go in order to get to the Golden City of Naviea.
Which way should she choose?