Fame and fortune favours the bold as mercenaries run the lawless west. But growing up in a quiet farm, young Luc didn't dream of adventure until he fails the military entrance exam. Robbed of the chance to prove his worth to his adoptive family, he crosses paths with a group of vicious, bloodthirsty mercenaries out on a monster-hunting quest. With only his quick wits and honesty to fall back on, Luc's problems take a turn for the worst when he falls into a trap set by Roena Blackwood, the eldest of the local duke's daughters. Dragged into a twisted plot concocted by a power-hungry merchant, Luc must find a way to save the lives of those around him--including the very mercenaries he was fated to kill. This standalone novel in the BLACKWOOD MARAUDERS series takes on the origin story of the lesser-known group set in the world of Agos-agan.