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Prologue 1: Summons

(1) This is the story of Ikov. It begins with a dream. "You mustn't come; you mustn't come here..." said a woman's voice, slow, soft, and clear. Silence was the answer, stillness in the darkness, defeaning and heavy, and chilling, soundless words: "The time is near for me to come." "Come!"

(2) His head snapped up with a violent jerk. The dream faded, and he saw upon his desk before him scrolls, on sorcery and on discerning the spirits of the world. "Come, Ikov," he heard. He turned to see a tanned and aged wizard standing in the doorway of his small room. "Magus Muhbar! Yes, forgive me -" answered the youth. "Do not apologize, Ikov," said the man, "Listen to me. Your apprenticeship is over now. Our lord Tumeken summons you."

(3) As a prince of the northern tribe, Ikov had been in the company of the sun-god on several occasions: at festivals in the temple and at the royal court. But never before had he been summoned individually by the lord himself. "Why does he summon me now?" he thought.

(4) "Gather your belongings," said Muhbar, "and I will explain what has happened on the way." He did not have much to gather. Though a prince, Ikov would never rule; instead he had chosen to prepare under the direction of Magus Muhbar for a life of priestly service at the temple. Such a life required many years of study and of ascetic discipline. In a moment he was ready: donning his hard leather armor, sword, bow, quiver, sling, and pack for scrolls and necessary supplies. Walking quickly, Ikov followed his master from the temple rectory out into the dusty street.

(5) Magus Muhbar spoke: "Yesterday a new god came to our lands, a great eagle, seeking the counsel of a god who he was told takes a form like his own. He met with Tumeken last night, and they spent the whole night in conversation. This new god has a people like himself, eagle-folk, called the Aviantese, whom he wants to bring to our world to settle here in peace, alongside humans and the other mortal races. The god spoke of justice, of his desire to establish a kingdom in which creatures of all races may live together under the rule of law. Tumeken had many questions for the god, questions on every subject. But after the night, our lord gave to the new god his blessing and his counsel."

(6) They soon stepped onto the main street of Al-Kharid, which led to the royal palace. The sandstone structure reflected the blinding light of the mid-morning summer sun. Fires burned in the urns on either side of the palace gate and atop its defensive walls: the fires confirmed the presence of a guest at court. Hot winds blew from the east, carrying the scent of the cedars on the coast; Magus Muhbar stopped speaking, for then it would be too difficult to hear him above the winds.

(7) Still following his master, Ikov entered the palace gates and the royal court beyond. At his golden throne stood the Lord Tumeken. A great scimitar hung at his hip, and he wore a tunic of gold. Every ray of light in the hall moved with his movement, shifted with his gestures. To his left stood the Elidnis, dressed in a long white gown and accompanied by her maidens before her ivory throne. And to his right stood the avian god, a head taller than the others. He wore armor made of many metal plates, each bearing intricately smithed designs. In his bronzen foretalons he grasped a crooked staff. Light glinted from the sharp curve of his beak. And fire shown in his eyes.

(8) "Ikov, my son," said the sun-god in thunderous voice, "you have always been a faithful servant of mine, a skilled sorcerer, and a lover of justice. I am grateful for your service and now honor you with a new task, a task which will take you across this world and beyond it. You will accompany a new master, to share with him the ways of humans. There is trouble in the lands to the north. You will travel with him to bring justice to the peoples there. And then you will go to the far west to establish a new kingdom for your kind and for his, together under the just rule of law. He will be your god now. His name is Armadyl."

Prologue 2: Stone

(1) Armadyl and Ikov set out from Al-Kharid at once. Although only a youth and a mortal, Ikov spoke forthrightly with his new lord. And Armadyl admired his courage. The two spoke of their pasts, of the customs of their homelands, of magic, and of justice and law. They held each other in high respect. Warned by Tumeken to avoid the lands of the hydra directly north, they walked northwest for several days.

(2) Soon they encountered a black river flowing south toward the sea; the water appeared shiny and thick. "There is evil and illusion here," said Armadyl, "I dare not cross over this river. We must wait with patience to see how we should go." They camped before the river for three days, watching its tarry rapids.

(3) On the fourth day, as the morning mists cleared away, the pair saw a large, round stone in the middle of the river, sitting high among the rapids. It stood taller than a man and was carved with hexagons. It rested only an arm's length from the river's bank. The two stared at the stone, puzzled. Suddenly Ikov felt an overwhelming desire to reach out and touch it. Without hesitation, he stepped up to the bank and extended his hand toward the stone.

(4) "NO, IKOV!" Armadyl shouted. Ikov stopped. The urge to touch the stone stood aside, waiting, while he reflected on the outburst. He looked at Armadyl, his hand still extended toward the stone. Ikov saw the fire in the god's eyes - and worry. He wondered what would worry a god; the thought brought him pain. He did not know Armadyl; perhaps he would not remain with him, he thought; or perhaps he would not long survive the coming journey. He questioned why he felt such pain, why Tumeken had sent him away with a stranger, what waited for him just beyond his fingertips. He wavered in his indecision and pondered upon the friendship he had found with Armadyl.

(5) The god waited. Ikov dropped his hand to his side. Slackening, Armadyl spoke, "Good, Ikov. The stone is not for either of us to touch. I don't know what would have happened had you touched it. I'm not even sure I know what it is, or if this is an illusion and a trap, placed here for anyone who would enter these lands." The god paused. "There is something strange here: this magic is meant to test the human heart."

(6) The two retreated from the bank and waited for the rest of the day a short distance from the stone. When the mists cleared on the following morning, the stone was gone, and the water of the river flowed clear over a shallow ford. Armadyl and Ikov crossed into the lands beyond.