Once, there was a great book -- no, a Book. It was known as the Book of Endiness.
It was a vast historical tome, filled with the blood and tears of generations,
telling tales of war and peace and love and loss.
For centuries, this book has been lost to the winds and was thought forever lost.
Some of the pages have been recovered . . . and through them, we are granted a glimpse
into an ancient history before myth and legend become dust.
THE MAN IN BLACK
He arrived in Fletz at dawn.
He came under cover of darkness, but the sun was even now beginning to burn through the menacing gray fog washing off the sea. Now the fishermen were beginning to load up their boats and skiffs and push out into the quiet harbor waters, as tradesmen began to hawk their wares in voices roughed by sea and salt.
He judged his pursuers were three days' behind him, perhaps four. Even with his magic and his speed, he could only go so far. And they would be hunting him with a fervor now. Especially the leader, Feld.
The knight.
The damned knight.
He had not sought to kill Slambert, but the thrice-damned fool had attacked him first. He had seen his liege in danger and had thoughtlessly leapt in to protect him. Lloyd could have easily evaded the move, but his instincts had kicked in and he hadn't thought twice.
Still . . . he did regret the man's unnecessary death.
He had seen the hate in Dart Feld's eyes, a cold blue-gray like the sea fog. He knew that the man would not rest until he had his hands around Lloyd's throat.
Lloyd was willing to afford Feld every opportunity for revenge. He owed him that. But not now.
There was work to be done.
Fletz had not changed much in the thousands of years it had stood nestled on the shores of the sea. The houses were built of seastone, as were the streets. Bizarre mosaics were chalked everywhere you looked. The Tiberoans worshipped the stars and the heavens and painted their religious tenets all over the place in blue woad dye. The Tiberoans thought these zodiacal mosaics tasteful; Lloyd thought them garish.
A gaggle of children were hunkered in an alleyway. Lloyd glanced over as they turned his way. One of them was swinging a dead cat by the tail. Lloyd gave them a baleful stare and the children scampered.
He fingered the belt he wore. The Moon Gem was stowed away in a small pouch there, right beside the haft of the ancient Wingly blade. The pommel was burning with an uncommon warmth; according to ancient lore, a blade that was used to slay a dragon never lost the dragon's heat.
Or a Dragoon's.
Lloyd squinted up at the massive twin spires that cast a shadow over all of Fletz: the Twin Towers of Fletz Castle. By now, the woman should have taken her rightful place in the court—and soon, this stranger would be granted all the power in the kingdom. Already the wheels were in motion. The second piece of the puzzle was in his grasp. And the delicious irony was that Dart Feld and his brood would be instrumental in delivering it to him.
All was going according to plan.
Lloyd smiled.