Prologue
PROLOGUE: THE DARKEST DAY
It was said that the clouds wept the day the first left the blessed city, that the rain pounded the earth with such force that few men dared to look up. The sky was dark, it is said, and lightning tore through the darkness as dragon claws tear flesh. Yes, indeed the sky wept the day the mighty left the shining towers and took their power with them to unknown lands. All families had lived in peace for an infinity of years, for long ages the city had flourished, guarded by the sharp eyes and claws of the first and the enemies of the city died by their fire. The name of the city was on everyone’s tongue and its power extended through several kingdoms, in all kingdoms the city of the two dragons was known. Guarded it was by its protectors and many were the peoples who sought happiness and protection in the shadows of its towers. Yes, infinite could its glory have been had it not been for this one day, the darkest day.
Few of the city’s citizens knew the truth about the terrible betrayal that had been committed, about the deed that had been done, more vile than anyone could imagine. For a long time the first and their children had protected their kingdom and their people, for a long time the people had honored and revered their protectors and the city’s foremost guardians. Little did anyone suspect that there were souls out there who found the harmony disturbing, who saw themselves as better than the first. Souls were out there who wanted control rather than cooperation, who wanted a force they could tame and rein in like you put a bridle on a war stallion.
A seed had been sown and from it grew perdition and betrayal. With the help of magic, the seed was cultivated and few saw anything wrong with it, for what was brought to the people seemed like a good thing, like a valuable gift given by well-meaning will. Only few saw what it would bring forth. After a short time, as the first saw it the new race had grown and their strength was used by humans just as humans use other dumb animals for their own pleasure. Great prosperity came with this and the city’s fame and power grew, the creator of the new race was praised and honored and no one saw the darkness that grew and nourished in his heart.
Soon he wanted to create something that would give him even greater power, something more powerful than even the first and he began a terrible magic. So terrible was the power he awakened that it was said that the mountains screamed when the rituals were finished, that the rivers flowed with blood and that the clouds emptied of black rain. The people were horrified but had no idea what had happened.
The rituals were not successful, what he had created was too terrible, too cruel and too evil to live, the creature died of itself and its master left the city in anger, without revealing to its citizens what he had done, what monstrosities had been brought forth in its midst. The people wondered why their benefactor had left them, and many were afraid. The first knew and understood, for them it was clear what had happened and they made a difficult decision. “The human soul is weak” they said, “and it will be tempted by this, tempted to yearn for the unattainable.”
Next time, perhaps the result would be even more terrible and now the people had the new generation to help them. On the darkest day, they took to their wings, all of the first and their offspring and they left the city that had been their domain for so long. They left it and the city’s citizens stood in silent disbelief as they disappeared. Only the white female and the red male who were the origin of so many remained, many crowded together in the streets and on the towers and wondered and spoke of their fear and confusion. The leader of the city went to the two, knelt at their feet and begged them to tell what this meant, what wrong they had done? The answer made no one wiser, quite the opposite.
“Men shall have their time,” they said, “The pure dragons have had theirs. Take the new race created in our image and do with them as you wish but never forget us for what was sown was the seed of destruction for us all. The race of men must become like a chick from the egg, learning to use its own wings until the day comes when they must bear. We have guarded you, now children of this city, learn your own strength for we will not return until the time is ready for us again.”
With these words the two took to their wings and the people stood with empty eyes and watched as the two who first gave the city its name disappeared. The city leader spoke to his people. “Fear not,” he said, “Today we are charged with a task and a challenge, let us live in honor and remember our guardians in our hearts. One day they will return and then we will show them that we have followed their words and lived as they taught us.”
The people went home with sorrow in their hearts but they remembered these words and in the years that followed the city flourished even more and its splendor and beauty created legends. Time passed and the pure dragons did not return but they remained in the city’s memory even though people died and were born. In the legends everyone knew that they had promised to one day return, and they gradually became myths and legends, along with the memory of the dark day when the city known as the city of the two dragons lost its true protectors.
