Family factions fought for power, and children vied for their inheritance. Annan Reeves was no exception. But he was still a minor, shunned and overlooked by his family. Unable to bear it, he wanted to pray to a Devil for power—
The Blue Dragon's deep, muffled voice interrupted the Apprentice Devil's reverie:
"Devil, before you stands the guardian of the Northern Frontier, lord of Star-Moon Bay, scourge of the Ratfolk, and King of the North, Annan Reeves."
Annan looked up in surprise and saw the Red Ghost bobbing cheerfully. The Blue Dragon had gotten that introduction from him.
"King of the North, Brudona greets you." The figure embossed in flame placed a hand over her chest in respect. "What do you need?"
"I want a Contract witnessed by a Devil."
Annan laid out his terms, and the Apprentice Devil drafted them: Star-Moon Bay would give the Druids the land north of the Glacier River to restore the Forest and would not cut down its trees at will. In return, the Druids would cultivate crops for Star-Moon Bay.
"Would you like me to set a trap for you?"
"No."
The Contract, written in the Common Tongue, was soon complete and appeared across the fiery figure. Then it was the Blue Dragon's turn:
"Check the Contract for loopholes."
Amber eyes studied the Contract. Before long, the Blue Dragon spotted an odd passage—an entire paragraph written in impossibly tiny cursive: the Devil had the right to cancel the Contract.
"That's in case either party wishes to cancel it, but since you can't accept that..."
The Apprentice Devil changed it. Then the Blue Dragon discovered that the decorative flourishes were ancient Hylai script. They meant that each human calendar year, payment was owed to the Devil under this Contract.
"I thought we could become