Prologue

Footsteps clicked along the stone floor.

The sphere glowed a bright red.

There was much commotion, yet silence.

A hand with sharp, white nails hung over the sphere.

There was the pounding of a hammer and the spark of metal against metal.

He grinned a toothy grin.

His eyes bulged.

His neck was twisted.

His nose was crooked.

His hair was filthy with grease.

He stank of a putrid odor that seeped into his nostrils.

The other, was much more human-looking.

His face was pale.

His hair was white.

His eyes were a bright green.

His mouth was a disgusting hole in his old face.

"We are ready." came the hiss of the ugly one.

"We shall begin." said the deeper voice of the old one.

Sarumon waved away his captain.