The First of the Magi tottered down, leaning heavily on his staff, and fell back against a rock. 'Perhaps… we should camp here.' He gasped for breath, sweat running down his gaunt face. 'You would never guess I once ran through this pass. I made it in two days.' He let his staff drop from his trembling fingers and it clattered down amongst the dry grey driftwood near the water's edge. 'Long ago…'

'I've been thinking…' muttered Luthar.

Bayaz' tired eyes swivelled sideways, as though even turning his head might prove too much of an effort. 'Thinking and walking? Pray do not strain yourself, Captain Luthar.'

'Why the edge of the World?'

The Magus frowned. 'Not for the exercise, I assure you. What we seek is there.'

'Yes, but why is it there?'

'Uh,' grunted Ferro in agreement. A good question.

Bayaz took a long breath and puffed out his cheeks. 'Never any rest, eh? After the destruction of Aulcus, the fall of Glustrod, the three remaining sons of Euz met. Juvens, Bedesh, and Kanedias. They discussed what should be done… with the Seed.'

'Have that!' shouted Ninefingers, pulling another fish from the water and flinging it onto the stones beside the first. Bayaz watched it, expressionless, as it squirmed and flopped, mouth and gills gulping desperately at the suffocating air.

'Kanedias desired to study it. He claimed he could turn it to righteous purposes. Juvens feared the stone, but knew of no way to destroy it, so he gave it into his brother's keeping. Over long years though, as the wounds of the Empire failed to heal, he came to regret his decision. He worried that Kanedias, hungry for power, might break the First Law as Glustrod had done. He demanded the stone be put beyond use. At first the Maker refused, and the trust between the brothers dwindled. I know this, for I was the one who carried the messages between them. Even then, I learned since, they were preparing the weapons that they would one day use against each other. Juvens begged, then pleaded, then threatened, and eventually Kanedias relented. So the three sons of Euz journeyed to Shabulyan.'

'No place more remote in the whole Circle of the World,' muttered Longfoot.

'That is why it was chosen. They gave up the Seed to the spirit of the island, to keep safe until the end of time.'

'They commanded the spirit never to release it,' murmured Quai.

'My apprentice shows his ignorance again,' returned Bayaz, glaring from under his bushy brows. 'Not never, Master Quai. Juvens was wise enough to know that he could not guess all outcomes. He realised that a desperate time might come, in some future age, when the power of… this thing might be needed. So Bedesh commanded the spirit to release it only to a man who carried Juvens' staff.'