Introduction
It is strange what happens to a man when he becomes a legend. They say all war stopped because he fought. The bards say that his army was one million strong and he killed ten thousand with his own bare hands. They even say that he rode twelve dragons at once and could breathe fire. All of those stories are lies save for one. Peace has existed for fifty years in the world of Ulam because of him. His army was only one hundred thousand and he only killed fifteen-hundred men. Only one dragon fought alongside him and his sword could breathe fire but he could not. I only know this because I fought at his side and I killed almost as many men. He was my blood-brother and I fought to protect him with my life. All know him as Old Shadow, for his skin was as black as shadow. I knew him as Cyrus Shakasson, a good friend and terrible foe of the Farendra Empire. Of him, the bards have told many stories.
Only one knew the man behind the legend. I, Itza- lupan, am that man. My name means great wolf in the tongue of the pale faces. I learned to read and write from them and before I leave to travel the Eternal Pastures of the Great Spirit, I aim to tell the story of my good friend.