Prologue: A Terrifying Shade

A gale swept through the night, carrying a scent with it. The world was about to change. A tall Shade raised his head and sniffed at the air. He had the appearance of a man, except for his red hair and crimson eyes.

He blinked in surprise. The information was accurate beyond doubt: they were here. Or perhaps it was a trap? He weighed the matter, then said coldly, "Spread out; hide behind the grass and trees. No one is to come over here, or else... kill without mercy."

The twelve Urgals beside him shuffled about, short swords and round iron shields in hand, black markings painted upon the shields. They resembled humans, but had bowed legs, thick arms seemingly made for crushing, and a pair of curved horns above their small ears. The monsters grunted as they rushed into the undergrowth. Moments later, the rustling faded, and the forest returned to silence.

From behind a great tree, the Shade gazed down the path. The night was pitch-black, and humans would have seen nothing, but to a Shade, the faint moonlight spilling through the gaps between the trees was as bright as day. He was unnaturally composed, his searching gaze missing not the slightest detail. In his hand was a longsword that gleamed with cold light, a hair-thin groove winding down its blade. It was thin enough to slip between ribs, and sharp enough to pierce heavy armor.

The Urgals' eyesight was inferior to the Shade's. Like blind beggars, they fumbled and searched, their weapons knocking together. An owl's shriek suddenly pierced the silence. Only after it flew away did everyone breathe again. The Urgals began shivering in the frigid night. One Urgal's clumsy boot snapped a branch with a crack. The Shade hissed in fury, and the Urgals immediately hunched themselves up and froze. Suppressing his disgust—the Urgals reeked of rotting flesh—the Shade turned away. They were nothing but tools.

Minutes turned into hours, and the Shade forcibly suppressed the irritation in his heart. That scent must have drifted far ahead of its owner. He did not allow the Urgals to rise or warm themselves, nor did he seek comfort for himself. He merely hid behind the tree and watched the path. Another gust swept through the woods. This time, the scent grew stronger. Excitement rose in him, and he pursed his thin lips in a low growl.

The Shade said softly, "Get ready." His body trembled, and the sword point quivered. He had plotted for so long and endured until now; he could not lose control at this moment.

Beneath their heavy brows, the Urgals' eyes gleamed as they tightened their grips on their weapons. The Shade stood before them when he heard a faint sound—something hard striking a loose stone. Several blurred figures emerged from the darkness and came down the path.

Three white horses carried proud, erect riders leisurely toward the ambush. Their cloaks drifted lightly in the moonlight like flowing silver.

An elf rode at the head of the group. His ears were pointed, his eyebrows swept up elegantly, and his body was slender yet solid, like a double-edged sword. A powerful bow was slung across his back, a sword hung at one side, and a quiver of swan-feathered arrows at the other.

The rider at the rear was likewise handsome and upright. He held a spear, wore a short blade at his waist, and bore a helmet inlaid with gold and jade, exquisite beyond compare.

A female elf sat on the horse in the middle, calm and composed as she surveyed her surroundings. Her hair was like dark clouds, her lashes long and black, and her gaze blazing and forceful. Though she wore plain garments, she was still delicately lovely. A sword hung at one side, a longbow rested on her back, and from time to time she glanced at the small bundle on her lap, as though afraid it might disappear.

One elf murmured something the Shade could not make out. But the female elf was clearly giving an order, for the two guards switched positions. The helmeted one moved to the front, ready to charge with his spear at any moment. They passed the Shade's hiding place and the first Urgals without noticing a thing.

When the wind shifted, carrying the Urgals' heavy stench toward the elves, the Shade already held victory in the palm of his hand. The horses snorted alertly and kept turning their heads. The riders jolted, looked about on both sides, then immediately wheeled their mounts around and galloped away.

The female elf raced ahead, leaving the two guards far behind. The Urgals rose and loosed a black rain of arrows. The Shade leaped from behind the tree, raised his right hand, and shouted, "Garjzla!"

A red beam shot from his palm toward the female elf. The forest was dyed the color of blood. The red light struck the female elf's mount. The horse screamed, staggered several steps, and collapsed. In an instant, the female elf sprang from its back, landed lightly, and turned to look at her guards.

The Urgals' deadly hail of arrows swiftly felled the two elves. They tumbled from their fine horses, their blood pooling upon the earth. The Urgals rushed toward the fallen elves, but the Shade shouted at the sight, "Chase the woman! She's the one I want!" The monsters grunted as they ran down the path.

Seeing her companions die, the female elf cried out and took a step toward them, then rushed into the forest, cursing her enemies aloud.

While the Urgals crashed about through the woods, the Shade climbed atop a giant boulder overlooking the entire forest. Raising his hand, he chanted, "Great Fire!" At once, the forest for a quarter of a mile erupted in flames. He burned patch after patch until the blaze formed a circle half a league in diameter, like a halo placed around the forest, sealing the ambush site within. Then, fearing the fire would die out, he watched over it carefully.

The ring of fire burned wider and wider, devouring the places the Urgals had searched moments before. Suddenly, the Shade heard shouts and a howl. Through the trees, he saw three Urgals lying in a heap, mortally wounded. The elf's figure flashed among them.

She sprinted toward a jagged rock. From twenty feet above, the Shade gave her a brief look, then leaped down nimbly to land before her. The elf stopped short and turned toward the path. Black Urgal blood dripped from her sword, staining the small bundle in her hand.

Horned monsters burst from the woods and surrounded her, blocking her only path. The elf looked left and right, seeking another way. Seeing that there was nowhere to go, she straightened herself, solemn and disdainful. The Shade approached with one hand raised, gazing at the helpless elf with smug delight.

"Seize her."

The Urgals surged forward. The elf opened the small bundle and reached inside. She threw it aside, revealing a great emerald in her hand, reflecting the roaring flames. She raised the gem above her head and nervously chanted something. The Shade hurriedly shouted, "Garjzla!"

A ball of red fire shot from his palm like an arrow loosed from a bow, flying toward the elf. In that very instant, green light illuminated the forest, and the gem vanished. The elf was struck by the fireball and crumpled to the ground.

The Shade flew into a rage. Roaring, he sprang forward and hurled his sword at a tree. The blade sliced halfway through the trunk and lodged there, trembling. He released nine bursts of energy from his palm, and nine Urgals died on the spot. Then he pulled the sword from the tree trunk and walked toward the elf.

He looked up at the sky, clenching his thin hands as he muttered ugly, incomprehensible curses of vengeance. The cold stars watched him without blinking, observers from another world. His mouth twisted with fury as he turned to look at the unconscious elf.

Her charm could make every man fall before her, yet he alone remained unmoved. He searched again and again, and only after confirming that the gem had truly vanished did he call forth the mount hidden in the forest. He tied the elf to the saddle, mounted, and rode out of the woods.

He carved a passage for himself through the sea of fire, leaving the rest to continue burning.