Gemmell, David – Morningstar

‘When it is conducted for its own sake. A man who seeks to learn how to irrigate a field in order to grow more crops has not only increased his knowledge but has found the means to make life better for his fellows. Learning must be put to use.’Perhaps Cataplas will do exactly that when he believes he knows enough.’She did not answer me at first but stirred the coals in the fire, adding fresh wood to the flickering flames. There was once a prince in this land, to the north of here, who had a quest for knowledge. He was a good man, a kind man, but his quest became an obsession. His brothers, also good men, tried to sway him; he was a fine magicker, and he became a great sorcerer. But even this was not enough. He travelled across the sea, passing from land to land, ever seeking; he journeyed into desolate mountains and subterranean caverns, sought out lost cities, and communed with spirits and demons. After twelve years he returned, late one night, to the city of his birth. His brothers ruled that city wisely and well. In the summer the water was clean, filtered through sand and shale. In the winter the storehouses were full, and no one starved. But then he returned. Within the week travelers began to notice that the gates of the city were always shut, and woodsmen carried tales of screams and sounds of terror within the grey walls.

‘The days passed into weeks. No one left the silent city. People began to gather from the villages and towns, staring at the towering walls, wondering what secrets were hidden there. Several men scaled those walls, but none returned.

‘And then one night the gates opened. And the people saw. . .’At that moment the white face of a Vampyre appeared in front of my eyes, his teeth white, the canines long and sharp and hollow. I screamed and fell back, toppling from my chair. Megan’s

laughter filled the cabin as I scrambled up, embarrassed and yet still fearful, my heart hammering.

‘That was unkind,’ I admonished her.

‘But wondrously entertaining.’ Her smile faded and she spread her hands. ‘I am sorry, Owen. I could not resist it.’You had me convinced the tale was true. You are a fine storyteller.’Oh, it was true,’ she said. ‘Have you not heard of Golgoleth and the Vampyre Kings? Two thousand years ago these lands knew great terror and tragedy. For the prince, Golgoleth, had returned as a creature of darkness, a Vampyre. He tainted the souls of his brothers, joining them to him and bringing them the dark joys of the Undead. And then the evil spread throughout the city, and ultimately throughout the land.’I have heard of Golgoleth,’ I told her. ‘It is a tale to frighten naughty children: Be good or Golgoleth will come for you. But I doubt the truth of the story as it is now told. I see him as an evil man and a practitioner of the Black Arts, but not as an undying immortal feasting on blood.’He did not feast on blood, poet, but on innocence. But perhaps you are right. Perhaps it was fable.’Talons scraped upon the wood of the roof and I leapt from my seat. Then an owl hooted and I heard the flapping of wings in the night.

‘Just fable,’ said Megan, smiling, her eyes mocking. ‘Will you sleep now – or perhaps you need a stroll into the forest? It is very pleasant in the moonlight.’I grinned then and shook my head. ‘I think I will just go to sleep – and save my walk for the dawn.’Spring came early, the thaw swelling the mountain streams, bright beautiful flowers growing on the hillsides. It was on the third day of spring that Garik’s sheep were slaughtered, and great excitement followed. Huge tracks were found near the two butchered animals and Wulf, the senior woodsman, pronounced them to be Troll-spoor.

There were three of the creatures, likely a mated pair with a cub. They were far from the Troll passes, the high cold peaks of

the north-west, and it was rare, Wulf informed me, to find the beasts so far south.

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