Chapter One: The Shadow of Mor
One summer night in the bright city of Lonn, Jeram Gostav was planning a great feast to celebrate the arrival of an honored guest to his estate, a noble from the distant north who was looking at properties in the south, eager to build his second home. Jeram was pleasantly surprised when Leret had announced his intention to inspect the territories of Hagron for a suitable location, but when he asked Jeram if he could stay at his estate while he looked at properties in the city Jeram was beside himself with joy. His estate was one of the largest and most opulent in all of Hagron, and more than a few reputable figures had stayed at his manor over the years, but that did not diminish the excitement he felt for Leret, a noble man of great renown and, it was rumored, conspicuous wealth and generosity, and Jeram wasted no time preparing for his arrival, sending his pages into the city to summon the lords and ladies to a great gathering at his estate and alerting the chef and his cooks that a fine menu must be planned. The courtyard was busy with movement throughout the day as young men and women worked with militant haste, tending the gardens, cleaning the stables, and polishing every flagstone that led to the mansion. It was early evening when Leret's carriage entered the courtyard. A smile came to Jeram's face and he hurried from the balcony to greet the man. Leret emerged from the carriage and his booted steps clapped the cobbled path. He was a tall, bearded man who wore a brown cloak that almost fell to his heels. "Welcome, Leret," Jeram said as he embraced the man. "Thank you," Leret replied, receiving the affection with some stiffness. "How long has it been?" Jeram wondered. "Perhaps a year," said Leret. "Yes, a year," Jeram agreed. "Good friends should not be parted for so long." "I have been occupied," said Leret. "Yes, of course," replied Jeram. While they talked Jeram noticed the driver as he stepped down from the carriage with two large bags, each with a handle of gold. Jeram snapped his fingers and two boys came running across the courtyard and took the bags into the mansion. Then the driver moved to the back of the carriage and Jeram heard him unfastening something. Jeram snapped his fingers and two more boys came at once, but Leret halted them. "That will not be necessary," Leret said, and at that moment two men stepped out of the carriage. They wore swords at their sides and their faces were stern. They went to the back of the carriage and a moment later appeared carrying a large wooden crate between them. Jeram was plainly startled by the men and he and the boys stood a moment staring at the grim pair as they took their weighty burden into the mansion. "Some personal items of worth," Leret said. "I leave such things in the care of my retainers." "Yes, of course," Jeram said, regaining himself. "We cannot be too careful in these days, but come, you must be weary after your journey." "It was a long voyage," said Leret. "Yes, you are too far away. We must find you a place here in Lonn, greatest of all cities in Hagron. The north is fine for most, but you and I are a different breed, my friend, we are thinking men who require more from our surroundings than the gaudy trappings of wealth." They walked past a boy as he polished a pearl fountain encrusted with diamonds that glinted in the waning sunlight. "The gilded triflings of fortune hold little interest for us. We are men of action, men of great deeds." He snapped his fingers as they neared the mansion and two boys ran before them to open the marble doors. "While most others sit and watch the world move, you and I move the world. Men like us must not be stifled by the idle pursuits of commoners. We must seek our own kind, for our intellects demand the stimulation that only our own kind can give." "It is good to be among peers," said Leret. "Yes, you have been too long with those northern brutes. Tomorrow you will see the great men I have gathered to receive you, a host of the most brilliant statesmen and scholars, and I promise you it will be an evening to remember. Here in Lonn you will meet the right sort of people and you will be in the midst of all that happens in Hagron, at the very heart of the world I would say." "Indeed," Leret said as they climbed a stair. The two men talked for some time as night fell over the city, while outside four boys were busy hanging gilded chandeliers on the false branches of gold trees that lined the courtyard. **** The next evening Jeram's estate was a din of conversation, music, and laughter as Lonn's most celebrated citizens gathered to greet his special guest. It was a stunning assembly of the elite with august figures crowding every corner. The dazzling array included Prince Farem, heir to one of the richest kingdoms in the west, Lady Panala, descendent of Hagron's oldest and most venerated family who owned more land in Hagron than the King, Chancellor Ganor, a flawless politician whose loyal following made him one of the most powerful ministers in the city, Denen Fior, renowned architect, sculptor, and painter, and dozens of other notorious people. The courtyard was a sparkling mass of jeweled robes and tiaras flowing between tables piled with all kinds of pastries, cheeses, and breads. Near the pearl fountain musicians played a cheery tune that filled the air with mirth and also veiled the clattering feet of hasty boys who ran back and forth, bringing more food to the tables and picking up fallen glasses, cutting through the crowd so swiftly that guests perceived little more than a sudden breeze as they passed. In the center of the gathering Jeram stood surrounded by a throng of admirers as he introduced Leret to his friends. "Jeram tells me you might become our newest citizen," said Chancellor Ganor. "If I find the right place," replied Leret. "There is no wrong place in Lonn," Ganor said with a laugh. "You must join us." "I am very fond of this city," said Leret. "And the city is fond of you," said Lady Panala. Jeram met her remark with polite, nervous laughter, aware that she viewed his parties with a measure of cynicism, as if these gatherings were part of some scheme to bring more wealth into the city. Her observations were often amusing, but he knew others could mistake her sense of humor for contempt and he tried to tame her before she made another comment. "Leret, you must meet Lady Panala, Lonn's greatest treasure." "I am pleased to meet you," said Leret. Panala smiled at the man. "I have heard so much about you," she said. "You must be the richest man in the north." "My Lady, have you tried our desserts," Jeram said offering her a pastry. Panala laughed. "I cannot talk and eat at the same time, but I suppose that detail has not escaped you." "Nonsense," said Jeram. "I saw you without a plate and I thought you would enjoy this pastry." "I have heard much about you also," Leret said. Panala paused a moment and eyed the man. "I expect that you have. What stories have they told you of my eccentric ways?" "I have heard only the highest praise for Lonn's favorite citizen, and I see now how so many have fallen to your charms." Panala smiled. "I think you are the charmer," she said. "Look at all who have come to meet you." "I came to see you, Lady," said Ganor. The group laughed and Panala eyed the Chancellor. "Save your lies for people who will believe them," she said. "It is true," Ganor persisted. "And I am not the only one, many others have come for you." "I believe the Prince has his eyes on you," Jeram agreed. "And the Duke as well," said Ganor, and turning to Leret he added, "She has so many suitors, we cannot count them all." "I do not doubt it," said Leret. "No man can resist our Lady Panala, the fairest woman and greatest prize of Hagron," Jeram said raising his glass. Ganor raised his glass. "Panala, the most beautiful, most brilliant woman." Panala seemed unimpressed, plainly aware that she was being distracted so she could not probe Leret, but Jeram knew she was not immune to flattery, and their remarks were not wholly false, for she was a very comely woman with many suitors pursuing her. The fact that she was the richest woman in Hagron did not diminish her popularity either. A boy came into their midst and spoke to Jeram."The wine is here," he said. "Good, bring a barrel out here and take the rest to the cellar," Jeram said. The boy disappeared into the crowd on his errand and Jeram turned to his guests. "You can never have enough wine." "Never enough," Ganor agreed, taking a generous sip from his glass. Leret smiled and drank with the men. He spoke very little, but took an interest in the conversations around him, contributing an occasional remark to show he was in accord with the group. His manner was pleasant, yet he did not seem entirely at ease, and more than once his gaze wandered toward the mansion where his two swordsmen stood like sentries. Elsewhere, several men carrying barrels of wine followed a servant through a back entrance and then down a stair into the cellar. They placed the barrels in a row and then the servant led them back up the stair and shut the door behind them as they left. The dark cellar was very quiet for some moments afterward, but then a sound broke the silence as one of the barrels stirred, and at once the top of the barrel popped off and a figure emerged, short and lean, moving stealthily across the floor. A faint light spilled from the door into the room and he made his way up, taking care to step lightly on the wooden stair that creaked under his weight. He stood listening for a moment. He got down on his knees and spied no movement under the door. He opened it slowly and peered across a great hall that was hung with paintings. He heard voices. Then the clap of feet on the marble floor sent him dashing back down the stair. He hid in the shadows as two boys came into the cellar. "Why put them in the cellar if we are just going to carry them all up?" one of them said. "A row of barrels would be unsightly in the courtyard," the other replied. "And they will not drink all of them anyway." "They could drink all the wine in Lonn." The boys picked up a barrel and carried it up the stair. "When will they leave?" "Soon, this is the fourth barrel and there is rarely a fifth. That is how it usually goes." The door closed and the thief was in the dark again. He sat huddled against a wall and kept a wary eye on the stair while he waited for his moment. Some time later the crowd had diminished so that only a small group lingered in the courtyard. Inside the mansion Jeram was still talking with Lady Palana and Chancellor Ganor. He saw Leret on the stair. "Good night, Leret," he said. "We will see the city tomorrow." Leret waved to them and retired to his room. "He is a quiet one," said Palana. "A modest man," said Jeram, "who chooses his words with care." Palana received this with a smile, aware that her pointed remarks had not gone unnoticed. She finished her glass of wine and started on her way out to the courtyard. "It was a fine evening," she said. "Let me know when you have your next gathering." "Of course," said Jeram, "The Lady of Hagron is always welcome." "It has been the greatest pleasure, my Lady," said Ganor. The two men watched her cross the hall. "Another calamity avoided," said Jeram. "Indeed," Ganor agreed. "I feared she might not relent and send our poor Leret running back to the comfort of his northern barbarians." Ganor laughed. "She could do it." "I still remember how she terrorized the Duke." Jeram gulped his wine. "Yes, I was there," Ganor said still laughing. "Imagine the arrogance of the woman, suggesting the Duke had won favor with the Council with bribes, like some common criminal." "It was appalling," Ganor said, trying to regain himself. "It is not funny," Jeram protested. "Forgive me," Ganor said laughing. "She insulted the man under my roof," said Jeram. "Her wicked tongue nearly cost me a valued friendship." "Very valued," Ganor said with a knowing smile. Jeram eyed the Chancellor. "He is an old friend." "Yes, with the old ties that bind," Ganor said with a grin at his play on words that implied old money. "He is a stout man with a fine reputation," Jeram insisted. "He should not be questioned and prodded like some villain." Ganor nodded as he drank. "To accuse such a man of bribery is the most grievous insult," said Jeram. "He is not the sort of man who bribes people." He looked at Ganor for agreement and the Chancellor nodded dutifully. "If his nature is such that he delights in sharing his wealth with members of the community we cannot fault the man for his generosity." "I would not," said Ganor. "And if his kindness extends itself toward members of the Council we can hardly call this bribery." "Hardly," Ganor agreed. "I know you understand these things, my friend, you and I both grasp the complexities of the circles we move in. We are not cynical men who look at a kindly deed as some sort of ploy to win our favor, we do not let suspicion and rumor cloud our judgment. Panala does not see things as we do." "She sees too much, I think," Ganor mused. "Be careful," Jeram cautioned. "This city has no sense of humor." "I am always careful," Ganor assured him. "Yes, we must be wary," said Jeram. "Panala is a good friend and she is always welcome in my home, but I think it would not harm us to distance ourselves from the Lady for a while." "At least until Leret has settled here with us," Ganor suggested. "My thought exactly," said Jeram. He looked into the courtyard. "Come, let us see who remains." "I am at your side," said Ganor. The two men left the mansion, talking and drinking, unaware of the grey figure who emerged out of shadows. He crept across the carpeted floor and hastened up a curved stair. His breath was heavy and his heart pounded as he stared in disbelief at the wealth that surrounded him. He went swiftly up the stair and reached the second floor where he paused a moment. He saw three doors in the moonlight. He took a breath and moved toward the middle one. His hands were trembling as he picked the lock and he tried to steady his nerves. He had won his way into Jeram Gostav's mansion and he could hardly believe it. He thought of the fortune that waited for him beyond this door, the gems, diamonds, and coins that Jeram was said to keep in his chamber, and he could not control his excitement. Then his heart leapt as the door swung open. He waited a moment, listening. There was no sound. He crept slowly into the moonlit chamber and closed the door behind him in case others came. At once he found a doorway on either side of him and went to his right, and a moment later he stood in wonder of the treasures he found. The room was littered with sapphires, emeralds, and rubies that were laid into the furniture and scattered on tables. It was a great fortune, but only a fraction of Jeram's wealth, colorful trinkets that he sprinkled all around like decorative ornaments. The thief wasted no time grabbing handfuls of jewels and his cloak became heavy with the precious stones that filled his pockets. He could not take them all, but he had more than enough to make him a very rich man. He smiled, thinking how his life would change now. For years he had watched the wealthy and longed to live as they do, free of cares, flaunting their riches, and now he would be one of them, he would be the envy of every man in his town. He gathered his fortune and left the room, moving with stealth back to the door. He was about to open it and disappear into the night, but his greed was such that he decided instead to venture into the other room and see what he would find there. His pockets were full, but he might still fit a few pearls and rare coins before he left. He entered the room and was at once surprised to find a man standing by a window. The man did not see the thief as he backed away slowly, afraid to make a noise. He had barely taken a step when he noticed a strange haze around the man, like a black smoke that curled in the air, and he wondered if the soot came from a fireplace. Then suddenly the smoke shifted and took on a form, and his eyes widened with fear as he stared aghast at the shadowy being that appeared. He felt its gaze upon him and then a terrible hissing sound issued from the black thing. The man at the window turned abruptly and eyed the thief with malice. Terrified, the thief fled out the door to escape the wicked pair, dashing away with such speed that he tripped over his cloak and went tumbling down the stair with precious stones clattering on the steps as he fell. He picked himself up off the floor as the man appeared at the top of the stair with two other men at his sides. The thief was about to run, but something held him where he stood. Then he gasped as the man and his two guards levitated into the air and floated down toward him. He knew the man was a sorcerer with terrible powers and he would be slain for his discovery. The three descended upon him and he saw the dark creature was with them, its form shifting, sending curls of black smoke across the hall. He watched in horror as the ebon tendrils spread toward him. Then he saw movement in the courtyard. "Someone help me!" he cried out. At once the sorcerer extended a hand and the shadowy apparition vanished as the three men touched the floor. The thief met the sorcerer's gaze and for a moment he thought he saw a hint of fear. Then he saw Jeram approach the man. "What is this, Leret?" "A thief surprised me while I was sleeping," said Leret. Jeram looked at the thief. "Guards!" "He is a sorcerer!" said the thief. "I saw him speaking with a wraith! He would have killed me if you had not come!" Jeram laughed. "A thief and a fool." "I am telling you the truth!" the thief insisted. "That man is a sorcerer!" The guards seized him and he fought to break their hold. "I saw him with a demon!" "Silence!" Jeram demanded. "You are the villain here." He looked at the gems that littered the hall. "Did you drop something on your way out?" "I dropped everything, fleeing in terror from this sorcerer and his demon!" "Nonsense," said Ganor. "You were startled and ran like a cowardly thief," Jeram said. "Listen to me!" the thief pleaded. "I have heard tales of Mor's lords and the creatures that serve them, vile things that move like shadows. I saw this man with such a creature. I tell you he is one of the dark lords." "So he is not merely a sorcerer," said Jeram, "now he is one of the dark lords." He turned to the group that had gathered. "Everyone, you must hear this, the dark lords have come to Hagron." His remark sparked laughter among the guests and many of them were already starting to move back to the courtyard, talking and drinking as they had before the disturbance. "Where were your swordsmen, Leret?" asked Lady Panala. Jeram almost winced, "Excuse me, Lady?" replied Leret. "How did this thief get past your guards," she wondered. "My retainers were elsewhere," Leret said. There was a pause and Jeram noticed the din of conversation had faded. "He needed no guards," Jeram said. "He slept in my own chamber which I gave to honor him. I told him it would be his for as long as he stayed here and he could store all his personal things there, but being the elegant sort of man he is, he insisted that his materials be kept in a separate storage where his men could watch over them without crowding my quarters." "What sort of materials?" Panala asked. Jeram shuddered at the query. "Personal items," said Leret. "You must have brought a great deal of personal things with you if they will not fit in Jeram's chamber," The Lady observed. "I have brought some of my things," Leret explained, "but more things are coming." "Yes, he will make a new home in Lonn," said Jeram, "and he may store all his things here while he looks for the right place. Leret, you must forgive me, I should have provided you a more secure lock. The door must have been poorly constructed for this scoundrel to breach it!" He turned to the thief. "How did you get past the guards outside and steal your way into the mansion?" "I slipped by them under cover of night," the thief said with his eyes still on Leret. "You lie," said Jeram. "If you had the skill to do such a thing you would not have been caught. Look at the mess you made trying to escape. Anyone can see you are no master criminal. You are a simple fool who blundered his way into my home, pretending to be a thief." "Pretending to be a man," Ganor added. "You are the fools!" replied the thief. "Your own men carried me to the cellar in a wine barrel!" Jeram smiled, pleased that he had drawn the truth. "Is that how you did it?" The thief fell silent as he held Leret's gaze across the hall, still afraid the sorcerer might strike him down at any moment. "What is your name?" Panala asked him. He darted a quick glance at the Lady, plainly taken aback by the question. "Sim," he replied. She stared at him a moment. "I have seen you before," she said recalling. "Where was it?" "I work at the winery," said Sim. "Of course," Panala realized. "That is how you were able to plan this." "I am not surprised," said Jeram. "The owner is a poor judge of character who hires any peasant he finds. He has always lacked our good sense." "That is why he was not invited," agreed Ganor. "He can make my wine, but I will not suffer his kind in my home," said Jeram. "But you welcome this sorcerer!" the thief shouted. "Enough!" Jeram exclaimed. "Take this fool away and have him arrested." "No, you must listen to me!" The guards were dragging the thief out of the hall as he struggled and screamed, desperate to be heard. "You are all in danger!" They carried him away, out of the mansion and down the cobbled streets, and Jeram turned swiftly to his guests and spoke in a pleasant tone. "There is more food and wine being served in the courtyard. Come, my friends." The throng flowed back to the courtyard where young servants attended to each guest with platters and bottles and the din of cheery talk and laughter resumed quickly as Jeram made his way through the crowd, speaking pleasant words to people as he passed. His manner was elegant, without hint of any disturbance, and he had a smile for everyone he met, but he reserved his most enthusiastic appeals for his most celebrated guests, the princes and dukes and noble figures that he ferreted out of the crowd with a glance, greeting them with applauds and Ganor close at his side. While outside, the cries of a thief echoed down streets and alleys, dwindling and fading with the shadows of night.