CHAPTER 4

The keep of Erebus is no more than a tower suspended over the abyss. Four bridges are meant to symbolize the four clans. All now draped in the cloak of war and the hide of the Beast.

No more than 100 men have come here with their lives. Horns and trumpets foresee now the tragedy of nobles, proud helmsmen of the City of Bronze. The houses of mankind have become absolutely colorless, you see now. A century of cold, and a millenia of fiefdom. But you see the eyes of the men and they are bold. A fire in their eyes, like a striped tiger that will not submit to being ridden like a beast of burden. This, you feel, is why you have come. To taste the spirit of mankind one last time; amid the wines of the dead.

Ser Calladan of the Silverblade oversees all this, as the last living Lawmaster. You see no easternmen apart from you. And icemen of cold hearts and stouter countenance have come here to dine one last time with their kin. Graz Hal is here, but you don't really understand how, or even if it is true. His blade is missing, and his looks are grim.

"Wayward boy!" shouts a man. A drooping horned mask covers his face, and a black cloak his body. The man looks like a demon from some nightmare. "Do not fret, giant, I am here because I need to"

"You look like Death itself. Why?"

The man shuffles around his cloak. You hear the snarling of dogs and direwolves as he moves about "I only wish to see. You, giant, you must know much about the Lord of Death, Murgadin, Viscount of Panthers and other Black Beings. But understand, you must understand, he is not as grim when you come to understand." He grabs your shoulder.

You spit at his feet "Crawl back to your shadows, aye, mercenary of darkness"

"Scimitars?" he questions. And you look behind you. Amidst the grey misted keep, of animals, hay, mud and beyond through the road: you see the figures of your childhood. Soldiers of the armies of the East; eaters of snakes, the goldenblack and the dazzling feathers. The soldiers of Illidia; by the glory of Amberslaine, golden jewel of ruling king! Aye! Aye, you cheer, for the cities of mankind! The beards of prophets will cry no more! you say to them; This is the day of warriors and the day of kings!

You are now approaching a semblance of sleep, and perhaps you are sad that this is the last time, but yet, you feel a little bit glad because this bed was the best you've have had since the village of Jaghn. A voice echoes from the window:

"You will cross the Valley of Shadows. And you will die. You will not see yourself to grow old, the time for that has passed. Mercy will not hold you in her gentle embrace, for your skin will be flayed by the very folly that brought you here! Wayward boy, your giant's heart will explode under the weight of this world! Again! I say! You will cross the Valley of Shadows, and you will die!"

"I will eat your heart cur! You threaten me, here?"

"Again! I am the Master of Dogs and the Harbinger of your Doom! Giant, tread lightly from here onward, yes, a thousandfold more than you've done before now! But listen! I am no proponent of your Death! You must listen! You are a fool! Not one with a black heart, but a man that dances and lays with Death!"

"You think me a fool? I could crush your head between my fingers!"

"Law has betrayed you once and will do so again. Man's machines you will hold close but will quickly fail you. Aye! And the soft earth that entombs your long lost kin? It is Thorax! And he is master here! But of all principalities of man, so called Gods, out of all of those deceivers, only the Witch has lied to you the most!" he snarls, or his cloak does

"If you cross the Valley of Shadow, you will not see the sunlight again! Never more, will you hold the joy of life in you, and the beams of the eyes of God will ignore you! And you will die a man deceived by the principalities you hold so dear! And no more, will you see your love for this world, for she too was an arbiter of your demise! Most of all, your strength will wane, and you will die! I say to you again, Giant, if you cross the Valley of Shadows you will die! And the earth shall not entomb you, for Thorax has already forsaken you..."

The wind blows him away like a bug swatted, away, by a giant hand.