Garassk, a reptilian varanian, is on his way home, when he's attacked in a war-torn village. Desperate for a place to rest, he seeks refuge in an allegedly haunted castle. The strange lord of the castle challenges him to a hunting competition, which he reluctantly accepts. Over the course of the night, he makes two discoveries about the hunt that change it from a simple competition to a fight for his life. Book 1 of The Varanian Saga.