'But of course not,' Ilumene said gently to the woman, 'not when you're with child. I was sent to protect you both.'

'A child? But how do you know?'

'It has been foreseen,' Venn intoned, 'and when your child is born, you will gift him your treasure.'

'Him? It's a boy?' she asked. 'I wanted a girl… I think I had a little girl, once-'

A boy,' Ilumene said with certainty, 'and one who will grow to be a prince. He will build you a palace of ivory.' He smiled at her, his arm around her shoulder, and urged her to start walking.

Her steps hesitant, she passed Jackdaw, who was still frozen with shock.

'A boy?' he echoed hoarsely. 'A prince?' 'A new dawn, a new Land,' Ilumene called cheerfully over his shoulder.

'Oh Gods,' Jackdaw breathed as a cold presence swept over him.

'Gods,' said the shadow softly, 'will soon have no place in this Land.'

The End

DRAMATIS PERSONAE

Aftal, Voss – High Priest of Nartis in Tirah

Ajel, Lord – Yeetatchen nobleman, father of Xeliath

Alterr – Goddess of the Night Sky and Greater Moon and member of the

Upper Circle of the Pantheon Amavoq – Goddess of the Forest, patron of the Yeetatchen and member of

the Upper Circle of the Pantheon Amber – nickname of a Menin major in the Cheme Third Legion Anarie – Goddess of Calm Glades, an Aspect of Amavoq Ansayl, Jachen, Major – Farlan officer assigned to the Rangers Antern, Count Opess – advisor to King Emin Aracnan – immortal wanderer of unknown origin Aryn Bwr – battle name of the last Elven king, who led their rebellion

against the Gods. His true name has been excised from history Atro – Lord of the Farlan tribe before Lord Bahl Azaer – a shadow

Bahl – Lord of the Farlan tribe before Lord Isak Belarannar – God of the Earth and member of the Upper Circle of the

Pantheon Bern, Jopel – High Priest of Death in Tirah Beyn, Ignas – member of the Brotherhood Bohreq (The Herdfather) – Aspect of Vrest, God of Beasts Breytech – a Chetse trader Brohm – a thug from Scree Burning Man, the – one of the five Aspects of Death known as the

Reapers Carel (Carelfolden), Marshal Betyn – Farlan nobleman and commander of

Lord Isak's Personal Guard Cerdin – God of Thieves Certinse, Knight-Cardinal Horel – Commander of the Knights of the

Temples, younger brother of Suzerain Tildek, Farlan by birth Certinse, Cardinal Varn – Farlan cleric. Third son of the Tildek Suzerainty,

younger brother of Suzerain Tildek, Knight-Cardinal Certinse and

Duchess Lomin

Certinse, Duke Karlat – Farlan nobleman, ruler of Lomin, grandson of

Suzerain Tildek Cetarn, Shile – a Narkang mage in the employ of King Emin Cetess, Pirlo – an artist native to Scree, one of King Emin's agents Charlat – deposed Lord of the Chetse

Charr – deceased Lord of the Chetse, Krann to Lord Chalat Chirialt, Dermeness – Farlan mage

Chotech, General – Chetse general of the Knights of the Temples Coran – white-eye bodyguard of King Emin Corci, Prior – see Jackdaw Corlyn, the – traditional name adopted by the head of the Farlan's priest

branch of the Cult of Nartis Cytt, Lord – deceased Menin white-eye Krann Daughters of Meqao – minor Aspects of Amavoq Death – the Chief of the Gods

Dedev, Borl – Farlan ranger assigned to Lord Isak's Personal Guard Deri, Major Parr – soldier from Canar Thrit, member of the Knights of the

Temples Dev, General Chate – Chetse general and Commander of the Ten

Thousand Disten, Cardinal – Farlan cleric, once a Legion Chaplain Doranei, Ashin – a member of the Brotherhood Doren, Abbot – Abbot of an island monastery and High Priest of Vellern,

God of Birds Dupres, Syen – Farlan servant, steward to Suzerain Foleh Echat, Tachrenn Chor – Chetse legion-commander of the Ten Thousand Echer, High Cardinal – Farlan cleric, leader of the cardinal branch of the

Cult of Nartis Ehla – the common name Lord Isak is permitted to use for the witch of

Llehden Elierl, General Brinn – deceased Farlan general, once commander of the

Lomin armies Endine, Tomal – mage in the employ of King Emin Eperal – Aspect of Hit Erizol (the nrcraiser) – Shaman from an extinct tribe in the Elven Waste,

now a Raylin mercenary Erwillen (the High Hunter) – Aspect of Verllern, God of Birds, and Aspect-

Guide of Abbot Doren Farlan, Kasi – Farlan prince during the Great War, in whose image white-

eyes were created and after whom the lesser moon was named Fedei, Wisten – the Seer of Ghorent Fernal – a Demi-God living in Llehden Fershin, Horman – Farlan wagon-driver, father to Lord Isak Flitter – Raylin mercenary Foleh, Suzerain Shoqe Farlan nobleman

Fordan, Suzerain Karad – Farlan nobleman

Galasara – Elven poet from before the Great War

Gaur, General – hybrid warrior from the Elven Waste, general of the Menin

armies and advisor to Lord Styrax Gort, General Jebehl – general of the Knights of the Temples Grast, Deverk – former Lord of the Menin

Great Wolf, the – one of the five Aspects of Death known as the Reapers Grepel of the Hearths – Aspect of Tsatach Haipar the shapeshifter – Raylin mercenary of the Deneli tribe from the

Elven Waste Headsman, the – one of the five Aspects of Death known as the Reapers Helras – Farlan monk Herald of Death – Aspect of Death Hobble – Farlan monk Ial – Aspect of Hit Hit – God of the Wind, patron of the Litse tribe and member of the Upper

Circle of the Pantheon Ilumene – a former member of the Brotherhood Introl, Tila – advisor to Lord Isak Ironskin, Tachos – Raylin mercenary of Chetse origin Isak – Lord of the Farlan, Chosen of Nartis and Duke of Tirah Jackdaw (Prior Corci) – former monk of Vellern Jeil – Farlan ranger assigned to Lord Isak's Personal Guard Jesters, the – Demi-Gods and Raylin mercenaries, sons of Death Karkarn – God of War, patron of the Menin tribe Kehla (of the Dawn Light) – an Aspect of Tsatach Kelet, Sir Veyan – Farlan nobleman and Ascetite Kels, Abbot – Farlan cleric, head of an abbey in Saroc Keneg – Menin soldier of the Cheme Third Legion Kenn, Shuel – Merchant from Scree and Farlan agent Kitar – Goddess of Harvest and Fertility, member of the Upper Circle of the

Pantheon Lady, the – Fate, Goddess of Luck

Lahk, General – Farlan white-eye, commander of the forces in Tirah Larat – God of Magic amp; Manipulation, member of the Upper Circle of the

Pantheon Larim, Shotein – Menin white-eye mage, Krann to Lord Salen and Chosen

of Larat Lecha, Tachrenn Erach – Chetse legion-commander of the Ten Thousand Leferna, Priata – member of the White Circle, leader of the uprising in Tor

Milist Legana – Farlan devotee of the Lady, employed as an assassin and spy Lehm, Suzerain Preter – Farlan nobleman Lehm, Countess Rais – Farlan noblewoman Lesarl, Chief Steward Fordan principal advisor to the Lord of the Farlan

Leshi – Farlan Ascetite soldier

Leteil, Lord – white-eye Lord of the Yeetatchen tribe and Chosen of

Amavoq Luripp, Count Aras – nobleman from Scree Macove, Count Perel – Farlan nobleman and member of the Brethren of

the Sacred Teachings Malich, Cordein – deceased necromancer from Embere Mariq, Shan – Farlan battle-mage Matak Snakefang – Raylin mercenary

Mayel – a novice from Abbot Doren's monastery, native of Scree Mehar, Lieutenant Garap – aide to General Gort of the Knights of the

Temples Meqao (Hunter of the Silent Wood) – Aspect of Amavoq Mihn ab Netren ab Felith – failed Harlequin, now friend of Lord Isak Mikiss, Koden – Menin army messenger Mistress – Raylin mercenary Mochyd, High Chaplain – Farlan cleric. High Chaplain of the Farlan, head

of the Chaplain branch of the Cult of Nartis Morghien – a drifter of Embere descent, known as the man of many spirits Nai – manservant to Isherin Purn, the necromancer Nartis – God of the Night, Storms and Hunters. Patron of the Farlan tribe