‘You must be a Dragonslayer or their apprentice,’ said a warm voice that sounded like how I hoped my father would have sounded, had I ever known him. ‘For only they may pass the marker stones.’

‘I am, sir,’ I muttered, unsure of how to address the most powerful wizard the world had ever known.

‘I expect you have many questions,’ continued the Mighty Shandar.

‘Well, yes, I do,’ I replied, looking up.

‘Questions that I cannot hope to answer.’

I got to my feet. ‘How’s that?’ I asked, but the Wizard ignored me.

‘This is a recording, by the way,’ answered Shandar, who now that I looked more closely seemed almost translucent, like a spectre. The image flickered and rocked as he spoke, and I was surprised to find that a sorcery recording is not a lot better than a poor video recording. I waved a hand in front of his eyes, but he didn’t react. The Mighty Shandar continued:

‘You are the first Dragonslayer to venture on to the lands and you are here for one of two reasons: one, you are curious, or two, the Dragon violated the Dragonpact. If the reason is the former, then look and see and leave as soon as you can. If the reason is the latter, then look very carefully at the evidence of the suspected crime. There is much deceit in this world, and if there is even the slightest doubt in your mind, let the Dragon live. One more point. Dragons can be deceitful too. They often have a separate agenda and will manipulate the weak-minded for their own purposes. I wish you the best of luck. If you want to hear the message again, clap your hands once. If you want to delete this message, clap your hands twice. If you want to save this message then . . . oh, never mind.’

He smiled, the image flickered twice and then faded from view, leaving me to mull over his words. Shandar’s support of Dragons seemed unequivocal, yet he didn’t appear to think you could trust them. Confused, and with his warnings about deceit filling me with unease, I began my walk into the Dragonlands, the Quarkbeast at my heels.