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some it is a simple matter to perceive the touch of the Gods upon a
man. For others such perception comes not easy. A miracle can be
not seen or can be ignored if the import of the miracle is not to their
liking. The force of the West is here upon this field. The war which
might here arise could rend us as Boundless Mallorea or the might
of Angarak with Fell Torak at their head might never have done.
Truly, dear Brothers, might the cities of the West be pulled down
and the Kingdoms laid waste and the people harried into the
wilderness. Aloria is one and Sendaria with them, but what of
Imperial Tolnedra? How speaks Holy Ulgo? What says the Queen
of the serpent people in Dark Nyissa? If we war, dear Brothers,
what will remain? What spark of humanity will be left to us? If we
fall upon each other, may not Mallorean and Murgo, Thull and
Nadrak fall upon our remnants and herd our poor survivors into
the hands of Dark Grolim priests for their unspeakable rites in
celebration of the victory of the Dark God we have here seen
overthrown?'
Then rose Podiss, emissary of Nyissa, ambassador of Salmissra,
Queen of the Snake People, and spake with great despite unto the
Alorn Kings, saying, 'Much have I wondered here at the readiness of
Sovereign Kings to submit to the will of one with no name of known
heritage. My mistress, Eternal Queen Salmissra of deep-wooded
Nyissa, will never submit to the overlordship of a nameless Alorn
butcher.'
And wroth was grey-bearded Eldrig, King of Cherek, and
ChoRam also and equally Rhodar of Drasnia. And Cho-Ram of Algaria
spake, saying, 'May it not be that the memory of the emissary
of Eternal Salmissra is somewhat short? And that of the snake
woman in Sthiss Tor also? Might it not profit her to be reminded of
the consequences of offending Aloria? Let us send her the head of
this spiteful ambassador that her memory might be refreshed.',
Then rose Mergon, ambassador of Tolnedra to the Court at Vo
Mimbre, and spake, saying, 'Highnesses, Great Kings of the North,
much wonder have we seen here. Great Brand, Warrior without
peer, hath overthrown Dark Torak and well have we avenged the
wasting of Drasnia and the invasion of Algaria upon the hordes of
Angarak. I greet Brand in the name of his Imperial Majesty, Ran
Borune IV, Crown of the third Borune Dynasty, and extend to the
Noble Warder of Riva an Imperial invitation to come to the court at
Tol Honeth that my Emperor might honor him as befits the
foremost warrior of the West. Let us not, however, hasten into
unchangeable decisions in the first flush of admiration and
gratitude. Noble Brand, I am sure, will be the first to agree that the arts
of war and the arts of peace are in no wise similar. Seldom indeed
are the two arts linked in the same man. A battle is soon over and a
war endures not forever. The burdens of peace, however, grow
heavier with the passing of each year. Moreover, I am troubled by
this talk of Aloria. Of Cherek I have heard and of Drasnia also and
Algaria. And who hath not heard of the Isle of the Winds and the
unassailable Riva? But where is this Aloria? What are its
boundaries? where lies this mysterious land Of the North? Where is its
capital? In truth, Aloria hath not existed since the sundering which
took place in the days of Cherek Bear-shoulders and his three
mighty sons. I am disquieted by this sudden re-emergence of a
kingdom long buried in the mists of antiquity' Imperial Tolnedra
must deal with mundane reality. We can send no emissary to the
court of the King of the Fairies. We can conclude no treaty with the