CHAPTER 1
"I still do not understand what this Rodentia is"
"I will explain what I have been told..." he looks to the fire ""It is a plane of endless bounty, a hidden place far from here; that has come closer in this time. It is a mythland, and an outerland. It is of winding tunnels and mouthes, not unlike ours, but these are the constructs of the Rats; and it is so that above it is a great, breathing thing; a thing that was described to me as the greatest thing a man could see: for it was if a thousand, no..an entire world of fire! But it was as if the fire did not consume anything!" he looks at me and his eyes water
"I must see it! Can you imagine? It was said that the roots sprung and grew into a..world of things upon this 'light'! And this light...aye! It was a God! No, I say, THE God of that world!"
"How did it not burn? What are you talking about?"
"It was a different fire, it cherished and kissed the soul and body! I say, man! There are two worlds, one above, and another below! I must see it again!"
"Then..you have seen it?"
"Only once..." he takes the dagger and places it upon his palm "This metal was from there...It is not iron or copper or even gold...but an alloy of 'tin' and copper...We must go...I fear it will go away if we don't.."
"How?"
He rips open a large swatch of silk cloth: revealing a small trapdoor sat in the bottom of the fireplace's mouth.
"Ho!You're going already? Have some food for the trip! You must! " the old man produces a bag of considerable weight