“I have great pleasure,” began President Abbud Manik of the United Nations General Assembly, “in welcoming the Prime Minister of Canada, His Excellency Jonathan Pike, and I would like to invite him to address the General Assembly. “ He looked briefly toward the camera before it cut to a shot of the Prime Minister.

Jonathan Pike stood before two microphones. His suit was immaculately straight, his fading blonde hair perfectly sculpted. On his lapel he wore a pin in the shape of a tree– the symbol of mourning for the lives lost during the Annacis Egress. He took a deep breath before speaking– as well he should. What he was about to say would no doubt go down in history as the most important speech he’d ever delivered.

“Good afternoon, Mr. President,” he started. “Fellow delegates, friends, Canadians and all the people around the world. Before I begin, I would like to thank you all on the behalf of Canada for their offer of aid, support, and resources in the aftermath of the event we’ve come to call the Annacis Egress. We will remain eternally grateful to you all.”

“It is an honor to be here with you in New York City today, and to have an opportunity to address the world regarding the events of May the eighth of this year. It had now been two weeks since the initial broadcast by Faye Wong and her production team, and the revelation that we aren’t as alone in the universe as we previously assumed. I know for the past fourteen days there have been more questions than answers, and I am blessed with the patience shown by our allies and friends around the world. Today, I am ready to reveal the findings of our investigations of the event and those directly involved in it.”

“Through our investigation we have discovered that the aggressors are, in fact, entirely human. We have performed DNA testing and have been able to identify genetic markers congruent with a Mediterranean ancestry.”

A low, excited chatter began as he made the admission. Thankfully, it wouldn’t be picked up by the camera, and so he continued.

“From our interview process with those arrested during the counter-operation Strange Egress, we have ascertained that they come from an entirely different world, a world they refer to as Ayndir. Specifically from a nation known as Embrayya, a country ruled by fifteen clans united under one King. The attack on Annacis Island was the result of a campaign to right an historical injustice perceived to have been committed upon them by the people of our own world. The arrestees have been cooperative with our questioning, and as of today, we have lifted the quarantine as we have been able to confirm there is no risk of the transmission of potentially dangerous viral contagion.”

“While the Embrayyans appear to have a technological capacity similar to the middle ages, they seem to have mastered some sort of natural force they refer to as the Elder Law. We believe it is this Elder Law that caused the creation of what we are referring to as the Shimmer. We also believe it is this Elder Law that prevents us from being successful in any attempts we’ve made to close or damage the tree in which the Shimmer presides.”

“Furthermore, genetic testing on two distinct types of animal that came from Ayndir, have shown us that this Elder Law may have some sort of effect on biology that we’ve yet to ascertain. While the Direwolves can be traced back to the European Gray Wolf genetically, we found genetic markers identifying several different species of mammalian and reptilian ancestry within the Wyvern. We suspect they have been engineered in some way by making use of it.”

“Despite our discoveries, there are still many more questions and concerns regarding our visitors, where they come from, and the nature of this Elder Law. As such, Canada is committed to the idea of engaging diplomatically with these invaders in an attempt to broker peace, not just to welcome our distant cousins and show them we are not their enemy, but to foster a deeper friendship between our two civilizations and seek to understand how we both came to be.”

“As such, Canada has made the commitment toward full public transparency regarding the Shimmer, and as of the moment I began this speech, we have published all of our findings publicly through the Government of Canada website. Today, however, I stand here before the General Assembly and ask the world to join us in this endeavour. I know this will be hard work. But I believe with all my heart that any challenge we face together will be met, so long as we can do it together. Merci Beaucoup.”

“I welcome the heads of the Clans to this Assembly,” the King said from his seat in the center of the room. “From Ar’Veda to An’Aureli, this Kingdom owes a great thanks to each of the Great Clans for seeing us through times of darkness and strife. Our nation is a beacon of hope in a dangerous world that comes together as all great nations must to hold back the darkness, and I, Othniel Caradoc of Clan Caradoc, owe each of you a great debt for your pledge of men, resources and friendship for these past two centuries. Together, we are the chain that binds the darkness away from the light, the light which shines ever onward into a glorious future together.”

“Two summers ago, with great luck and happenstance, the gift of the fabled Seed of Vaste’lon was bestowed upon me. The Seed gifted Embrayya with a mission only we could have fulfilled– to once again face the Demons of Outworld and bring justice for their ancient crimes against not just Embrayyans, the all of Ayndir, and I am honored to have gotten the support of each of those seated here today in this Righteous mission to collect payment.”

“As you well know, the initial mission was a rousing success, but I must hang my head in shame for being unable to foresee the levels of trickery Outworld was capable of. Tricking even the bravest of our armies into believing they were outmatched, and chasing us back through the World Tree, upon which time they barricaded the gateway to their world.”

He sighed. “I know of the rumours going around,” he explained. “I know some of you fear that the demons may be more powerful than we believe. I say nay. Not powerful. We have taken dozens of their people. Killed hundreds more, and yet for all their force, they were only able to kill a scant eighty of our own forces. Their power lies in deceit. Their only mastery over us lies in trickery and lies.” He pounded his fist on the table. “These demons call their world Earth. It is a world that means dirt in their language. The prisoners we have kept were quick to betray even their kind for a reprieve, and they have no honor nor discipline! They spilled their secrets as easily as they might try to spill our blood if we choose to believe them!”

“Every war has its setbacks and its victories. Outworld had but one small, insignificant victory over us, but I am here to tell you, my friends and honorable subjects, that it will be their last. Even now, we stand ready to face these demons should they attempt to step foot onto Embrayyan soil. Even now, our forces ready themselves for war. What this war will look like isn’t yet known, but I feel it will be a war that will cement Embrayya’s place in the history of Ayndir for thousands of years to come. What we do here, today, will be spoken of in legend, even after all of our names are lost to the dusts of time, and even Taydir’s Well contains no trace of us any longer. All I ask is that you, the Great Clans of Ayndir, stand with me!”

“The fool King has done it,” the voice in the darkness said. “Gone and opened a gateway to Outworld.”

“I know,” he replied. “I could feel its pull upon the Elder Law.”

“I can’t help but shake the feeling you had something to do with it,” the voice added.

“A strange accusation,” he said. “How would that benefit me?”

“If I attempted to understand why you do the things you do, I would not have time for anything else,” the voice responded. “I’d have more luck understanding the will of the gods.”

He had a laugh at that. “The gods do not wish that men understand their will.”

“You speak as if you know them.”

“Know the gods?”

“Yes.”

He remained silent for a moment. “To know them isn’t to understand them,” he responded. “They reside in the heavens, and the heavens are a mirror.”

“So we are reflections of the divine?”

“Not in the least,” he replied, scoffing at the voice’s words. “The heavens change. Men do not. Men remain ever the same. Be they human, or demon. The actions of men do not surprise me. But gods! Gods confound me! And well they should– for I think when we begin to understand them, we also begin to rise beyond them.”

“Is such a thing even possible?”

“No, I should say not,” he replied. “We cannot inherit the kingdoms of the gods. Their realm is a place we could not tread. It is not a place for men. We would not survive unless they willed it.”

“And so what if they willed it?”

“They would not. They would sooner destroy us.”

“Again, you speak as if you know.”

“The will of the gods?”

“Yes.”

“Is it not self-evident? Do you keep dogs in order for them to rise and become your equals, or do you keep them because they worship you and do your bidding?”

“Then why would they give us the knowledge of the Communion? The Elder Law–”

“-- takes life. Every day. You still believe it to be a gift. But what gift would rob the person receiving it of their very lives?”

“It doesn’t rob us all,” the voice replied.

He remained silent for a moment before replying. “You believe in myth,” he said.

“So you’ve told me time and time again these past two years.”

“And I will continue to tell you until you are satisfied.”

“Come now,” the voice responded. “When have you ever known me to be satisfied?”

He sighed from beneath his hood. “I will tell you again, as I tell you every time you will ask me, Rafe. The Timeworn Sages never existed. They’re a fiction concocted by ancient men who could not handle the concept of their own mortality.”

Rafe, the voice in the darkness, remained silent for a time before responding. “Perhaps,” he admitted. “Or perhaps you are lying.”

“I have been prisoner for two years,” he responded. “I have been starved and beaten, deprived of the very light of the world, and yet I have given you nothing. I would sooner die than be subject to this any longer.”

“Perhaps you will get your wish one day, Emrys Oringard. But my will is as strong as my patience, and I am not yet satisfied.” He held his tongue for a few moments before standing up. “I am tired, and with the World Tree again upon Ayndir, there is much to do.”

“You believe your masters are returning to claim you?” Emrys asked.

Rafe laughed. “You would like to see me kneel, wouldn’t you?”

“I would like to see anything. I haven’t seen the light in… what has it been, months?”

“I kneel before no master,” he replied. “Even gods from beyond the World Tree. We pursue our own destinies. They lost whatever hold they had on us eons ago. They are Embrayya’s problem now.” He then stood up and began to walk toward the door, then paused.

“Oh,” he began. “I should also tell you, the rumors on the lips of our informants say the Augur who tore down the wall to Outworld was an orphan of Ciel.”

There was a pause as Emrys processed what he had said. “There are many orphans of Ciel,” he replied.

“Perhaps,” he said. “But I wonder how many of them bore the name Annika.”

END OF VOLUME ONE