All Alex wants is a quiet life. Sure, his work is a bit dangerous, but he's used to that and considered to be lucky by many of his colleagues. When he isn't working, he wants to simply be left alone and have time to relax. A throw of the dice and a mug of ale is enough for anyone.
The only problem is, no matter what Alex wants, trouble seems to dog his every step. Now, instead of enjoying a quiet day in a comfortable inn, he's standing in the study of King Talus of Taneria, contemplating the possibility of accepting a contract that might be beyond even his considerable capabilities but will pay a fortune.
Everybody knows that the Flame of the West is a jewel of enormous power. It has been sought by many over the centuries without success. Those who have tried to take it in the past have all died.
While Alex might be able to get there and back, doing so with palace guards and a couple of comfort-loving civilians is really pushing his legendary luck to the limit.
So, a simple choice. Take a long and difficult journey across half a continent with no guarantee of success or make a potential enemy of a powerful king with a reputation for a firm hand. No choice at all!