The man was staring out of the window at the shadowy woods beyond. He was surrounded by a dim aura of light, and Lann could see that his hair was shoulder length and of an extraordinary golden colour. As if becoming aware he was being observed for the first time, the man turned to face him. As he did so, Lann’s breath caught in his throat. The man’s eyes were of the same bright gold as his hair.

‘Lannigon Fetlanger,’ the man said with the hint of a nod in the boy’s direction. ‘I shall call you by that name for now, at least until you ask your aunt for your real one.’

‘Wh-who are you? How can I see you?’ He managed to force the words out despite his fear. ‘What do you want? Am I still dreaming?’

‘Which of your questions would you like me to answer first?’ the man said, his face breaking into a smile. ‘Very well. I will take the questions in reverse. No, this is not a dream, although I fancy you might wish it were by the time we are finished here tonight. As to what I want? Nothing. No, I am here to offer you something: a chance to change your life … again. A change you may or may not wish to accept. But we will come to that, Lannigon.’ He paused. ‘You can see me because I will it. In the same way that I will it, you see me in this particular form at this particular time.’

Lann frowned, only half taking in everything the man was saying; it was too wonderful to be able to see again after living in the world of darkness for so long.

‘As for who I am … I have many names in many different worlds. To your people I am known as Rakur.’

It was as if the world ground to an abrupt halt in that moment. The idea that the being sitting at the end of his bed might be a god was not impossible for Lann to imagine, but what the immortal was doing here was a mystery to him. To those who worshipped him, Rakur was considered both malign and benevolent in equal measure. A trickster not to be trusted because the gifts offered by him always came at a price.

‘Are you here to see my aunt?’ the boy asked in a whisper.

‘Your aunt?’ The god seemed to find this amusing and chuckled to himself. ‘No, Lannigon, I am here for you. Tell me, boy, what do you know about your birth?’

The question took Lann by surprise and it must have showed on his face because Rakur mirrored the expression, a mocking look in his eyes.

‘Nothing? You know nothing about who and what you are?’