A DEBT IS OWED. Del Kanadis-indentured thief to the King of Fires-desires freedom above all else. When given the opportunity to repay his debt with a single job, he begrudgingly accepts, believing it to be a fool's errand. His task: infiltrate a secluded village rumoured to hold a relic capable of defeating the Fire King's enemies. Living amongst the townsfolk and gaining the trust of those in charge, Del quickly discovers they know more than they're letting on, and that perhaps the relic truly does exist. Upon discovering their ultimate secret, he realizes winning his own life back could come at the cost of everyone else losing theirs.

The Han Solo to Luke Skywalker or the Moriarty to Sherlock Holmes. The White Witch of Narnia or the pig Napoleon. Carmilla or Loki or Black Mariah. There's more than can be listed, and and all too often, we fall in love with them: Scoundrels. Whether they're villains or rogues, merciless killers, or thieves with codes of honour, so often, they steal the show. The tight-laced lead plays the straight man or woman to their jokes and schemes. Included in this anthology are stories about thieves with hearts of gold, and adventurers who aren't so noble.

We see them everywhere. Trolls hiding under bridges and on the internet. Great beasts creeping in the darkness or striding across the battlefield. Slithering in the depths of space. If you're really unlucky, you might even see one in the mirror. Inside these pages you'll find sixteen stories that range from the funny to the spine-tingling for your enjoyment.