Voices drew her attention then – Corban and Meical. Without thinking she rose and strode towards them, seating herself beside Corban.

‘I’m not saying that I’ve decided to go to Edana and not Drassil,’ Corban was saying. ‘What I am saying is that if we went to Edana I can see us doing much good by aiding her. Rhin is our enemy, a servant of Asroth. If we can help Edana defeat her, it would be a great victory for us.’

‘Rhin is an enemy,’ Meical said, speaking slowly, as if he chose his words with care, ‘but she is not the enemy. To defeat Asroth you must go to Drassil.’

‘Why?’

‘Because that is where the prophecy says you will go, and that the enemies of Asroth will gather about you there.’

‘I have heard much talk of this prophecy,’ Corban said, ‘but I have yet to actually hear it.’

‘I can remedy that,’ said Meical. He reached inside his cloak and pulled out a round leather canister. He undid a cord that bound it and slid out a scroll. It crackled as he unrolled it; everyone gathered close to hear it.

War eternal between the Faithful and the Fallen,

infinite wrath come to the world of men.

Lightbearer seeking flesh from the cauldron,

to break his chains and wage the war again.

Two born of blood, dust and ashes shall champion the Choices

the Darkness and Light.

Black Sun will drown the earth in bloodshed,

Bright Star with the Treasures must unite.

By their names you shall know them –

Kin-Slayer, Kin-Avenger, Giant-Friend, Draig-Rider,

Dark Power ’gainst Lightbringer.

One shall be the Tide, one the Rock in the swirling sea.

Before one, storm and shield shall stand,

before the other, True-Heart and Black-Heart.

Beside one rides the Beloved, beside the other, the Avenging Hand.

Behind one, the Sons of the Mighty, the fair Ben-Elim, gathered ’neath the Great Tree.

Behind the other, the Unholy, dread Kadoshim, who seek to cross the bridge,

force the world to bended knee.

Meical paused, glancing at the faces around the fireside.

‘Black Sun will drown the earth in bloodshed,’ Dath whispered to Farrell, his voice carrying in the silence. ‘Don’t much like the sound of that.’

‘There’s more,’ Meical said and continued reading.

Look for them when the high king calls, when the shadow warriors ride forth,

when white-walled Telassar is emptied, when the book is found in the north.

When the white wyrms spread from their nest,

when the Firstborn take back what was lost, and the Treasures stir from their rest.

Both earth and sky shall cry warning, shall herald this War of Sorrows.

Tears of blood spilt from the earth’s bones, and at Midwinter’s height, bright day shall become full night.

As Meical finished silence settled upon them, broken only by the hiss and crackle of the flames.

‘Storm and shield,’ Corban whispered.

‘Indeed,’ said Meical. ‘So, you see, you are the Bright Star, our champion.’

This might all actually be true, Cywen thought. My brother, the Champion of Elyon. It was much easier to believe, sitting here in the dark around a flickering fire, Ben-Elim and giants for company.