Prologue: The Truth in the Pages
To Your Majesty Aldric Rexall the Fourth, King of Avendor, Steward of the Westreach, Foremost of the Reach Rulers —
I write to you with a most urgent report. Elendol has fallen into civil war. Two factions — one aligned with the Eastern Empire, the other loyal to you and the other monarchs of the Westreach — fight for dominance over Gladelyl. Who will win control, I cannot yet say.
I, your most loyal servant, and your royal troupe, the Dancing Feathers, will soon brave the winter storms to return to Halenhol. It may be many months after this message is relayed to you that I report in person, but rest assured I will give a more detailed account upon my arrival.
For the time being, know this: Tal Harrenfel has revealed himself for the man I always knew him to be, and now flees into the East.
Yes, it is as I feared; the "Defender of the Westreach" has betrayed his countrymen, revealing his treacherous, murderous, and deceitful nature. He has killed Queen Geminia Elendola the Third, and from her body summoned the demon he was reputed to have slain: the fire devil Heyl, who wrought further devastation among the elves. We are fortunate that others did not long tolerate his creation and banished it back to the depths from whence it came, or perhaps none would have survived the Raze of Elendol.
The companions he has gathered around himself pursue him on his foolhardy flight — though to capture or join him, I do not know.
Peer Ashelia Venaliel and her brother, Prime Warder Helnor, were said to be Royalists, faithful to Queen Geminia to the last. But if that is so, they have severely misjudged Harrenfel's character. The rumors that Peer Venaliel and Harrenfel were lovers were all but confirmed when she was witnessed being intimate with him before Gladelyl's civil war began. Further evidence was supplied as her bond, Yinin Venaliel, challenged Harrenfel to a duel.
Does Peer Venaliel hunt him now as a lover spurned? Or to join him in his misdeeds? Does her brother go to assist her, or keep her from further mistakes, such as endangering the son she so recklessly brings into those hostile lands? Or perhaps he remains aligned with his late Queen, and vengeance is first on his mind.
The boy whom Harrenfel took as his apprentice, Garin Dunford, I suspect goes to join him, as do his unscrupulous bard, Falcon Sunstring, and Sunstring's improper daughter, Wren. From all their treatment of me during our travels, they are as sneaky and tricksome as their leader, and not to be trusted.
Kaleras the Impervious is said to journey with them. Arriving late for the Winter Ball, he came just in time to banish Heyl back to the fiery depths from whence it was summoned. I can only assume it is to finish what he started that he now pursues Harrenfel.
Only of one do I remain convinced of his motives: Aelyn Belnuure, Peer of his House, once the Emissary to Avendor for Gladelyl. All know of Belnuure's near fanatical devotion to his Queen. There can be no doubt that he seeks to bring Harrenfel to justice.
But not all was lost in the Sanguine City. By the swift initiative of your most loyal subject, I secured an artifact that may be of great interest to Your Highness. It is a book, or rather a collection of papers, but transcribed from its previous form. I believe these pages to be important, for they might explain the deranged and aggrandized beliefs that Harrenfel holds of himself. Written in the Easterners' devilish language — at which I am proficient, lore keeper that I am — this Fable of Song and Blood tells of beings of great power who alter the World by their mere presence. It even asserts the belief that these mythical men might challenge Yuldor for ascendency as gods.
Drivel on its face, I know — but if we might understand Harrenfel, perhaps we can stop him. And, as the feral hound he is, we might put him to a final rest.
But I leave such judgment to your wisdom, Your Majesty.
Until our next meeting, I remain your most loyal and humble servant…
- Brother Causticus of the Order of Ataraxis; Conveyed message received from Master Fantir of the Ruby Tower
