The Ironflower Ship, headed for the Continent of the Realms

The Shadow bides its time, as it does. Encased in the Wand gripped so righteously by the priest, a moment after the priest-apprentice was thrown overboard and thrust far below.

The Shadow senses the priest looking out over the calming waters.

And makes its move.

Slowly it sends tendrils through the priest’s hand, winding around his affinity lines, waking up like a Void dragon rising.

Reveling in the fracture inside this young priest.

It slithers deep into his mind, reading him.

Repent! A woman’s furious voice sounds, the priest’s memory of this firmly lodged in his mind’s darkest recesses. The woman is dressed all in black, her pale green eyes cruelly intent, her green-glimmering face as elegant as the priest’s, her gleaming black hair pulled back into a tight, neat coil.

A white bird pendant on a slim silver chain hangs around her neck.

The woman lunges forward, and the Shadow senses the sudden pain around the priest-child’s arm, her nails digging in as the room swings and he’s hurled backward against one of the Ironwood trees embedded in the walls, their bare canopy of branches snaking over the ceiling.

You’re evil! the woman snarls as she raises the long, dark branch in her fist, her eyes flashing with hatred. Vow to repent!

No, Momma...

Blows rain on the priest’s face, his small shoulders as he cowers and curls into a pathetic ball, pleading in a child’s voice. Momma, stop...no! I repent! I vow to repent!

Say it! she hisses, fisting the rod. Say you’re evil and beg the Ancient One for mercy!

I’m evil! I’m evil! Please, Momma, no...More blows rain down, the priest-child sobbing so hard he can barely breathe. The black-haired woman towers over him, her silks perfectly pressed, their neatness at full odds with her wild, flushed face.

Without warning, her hand clamps around the priest-child’s neck and he’s shoved against the tree. He goes limp, futilely gasping for air.

You will follow the Ancient One’s every law perfectly, do you understand? You will bring glory to His Holy Name!

The child forces a nod against her grip. The woman’s hand withdraws, and the priest-child pulls in a ragged gasp as he slumps into a devastated heap.

Say it, she insists. I will follow the Ancient One perfectly.

I will follow the Ancient One perfectly, the child rasps, his body trembling as his emotions splinter.

The woman stills, a prim composure taking root, like a curtain drawn. She points her branch at a small desk. The Book of the Ancients rests on its surface, as well as parchment, pen, and ink.

Transcribe the First Book, the woman directs, her eyes flashing with hatred as she looks the child over. Reflect and repent. Then I will bring you food and we will pray together that the Ancient One will have mercy on your wretched soul. With that, the woman sets the branch neatly against the wall and exits through the heavy Ironwood door, the click of the lock splintering off another piece of the child’s heart.

Desperate to please the woman, to please the Ancient One, and not be evil anymore, the boy forces his battered body up and drags his skinny form to the desk. As his shoulders convulse with silent sobs, he begins to write.PRELUDE

Prophecy’s Descent

Present day

The Amaz Prophecy

(Foretold from Sacred Red Elm astragalomancy
by the Seers of the Goddess)

Daughters of the Goddess take heed!

A great Shadow Force rises from
the Cursed World of Men.

And amidst its darkness, a Wyvern Male
and a Black Witch shall arise and clash,

raining destruction upon the world.

Take up arms, Blessed Daughters!

The hour to save Erthia is at hand!