The Book

The Blud Line

The Hall of Knowledge was where every story in the kingdom was stored, every wives tale, tall tale, and war story since the start of the kingdom was. Within hundreds of scribes, laborers , and owls worked tirelessly to preserve the books and scrolls from the weather, time, and rats. The halls where said to have originally been built for the fifteen dragons of King Sheo in the era of magic, but now four floors held every scrap of knowledge in the kingdom.

The prince and the king walked in silence to the hall, each reflecting differently on the knowledge Jameson had shared. Each wondering if the legend of the hall's intention were true.

"My king, my prince" A young scribe jumped as the king and the prince came in, bowing low enough for his nose to touch the floor. "My master was not expecting you... but allow me to fetch him," He said as the prince glared at him.

The Master of the Hall of Knowledge was an man one and a half times as old as the king, he was so shriveled from age that his robe swallowed him. He was hunched from decades of looking at bending over books, , and he saw things poorly from too many years of reading the small cramped lettering found in the books. The master of the hall had read almost every book in here but had memorized it all.

"My lords it has been quite some time since you have come to visit, please tell me what is the occasion that you have so rudely interupted my apprentices and I from our dilligence,"  The master said. If an other person had ever said this to the king their tongue would be fed to the dogs, but the master of the hall held a special place in the kings heart, the master had been the one that kept the king's mind sharp in his youth when he had been more concerned with his sword arm and the maidens of the palace than his studies. The old master had entertained him with tales of far away places along with the myths and legends of old times, the master had been the most important man in the king's youth teaching him how to become wise. The old master had also done these things for the prince, but he had never been as enthralled by it as his father.

"My friend, we come to ask you what is beyongd the Dragon's Teeth, I have now sent three legions of men over and only one has returned, and he has returned broken."

The master appeared surprised for a moment. He made towards a  round table that had been cleared when the king and the prince walked in, he gestured for the prince and the king to follow. All sat down. The master summoned a scribe over and quietly whispered orders to him before turning his attention back to the two men. "My lords past a dragon's teeth is the mouth, then the throat and then the fire," The master smiled as he lightened the mood, as did the prince and the king.

"But in all seriousness, past the Dragon's Teeth which guard our western border, no one knows for sure," The prince appeared confused for a moment, "SInce your forefathers took the throne ninety-eight kings ago, almost three-thousand years ago two-hundred documented expedition have been sent across the mountains and there have been fifty-six men come back. But I am afraid that few of their testimonies were ever taken, even fewer have survived the times, and only a handful make any sense." Both the king and the prince were shocked by this news.

"Surely there must be something about what is over the mountains," The prince stood suddenly very interested as an idea formed in his head, "Perhaps there is some wives tale or tall tale by some traveller."

The master looked at the prince surprised. "The people speak of magic past the Dragon's Teeth, but no one knows for sure, except that the nomads are said to frequently cross the mountains, but only gypsies dare speak to them and then it is only for trade not for tales." The young prince almost appeared angry.

'Ahh, here it is." The master exclaimed as the scribe dropped a large book on the table sending dust rising violently in the air. The master-with great effort- opened the book to a page already marked. He cleared his throat and began to read. 

"Past the Dragon's Teeth there be something much worse than fire.

I had been travelling with the nomads for five days, my only companion was Luno, son of the leader of the nomads, and his twin sister Luna they were three years younger than I both were fifteen. For five days we had simply rode on horseback togethoer trading tales- well Luno was, Luna and I mostly listened- but we had formed a friendship never the less although at the time I had never understtod what was so funny about my name. It was on this night that I first suspected the twins and many of the nomads of hiding something. I had been on my way to bed, later then usual, when I noticed that many of the nomads were silently sneaking off to the woods surronding the clearing we were in, I dismissed it at the moment as it being what young people do when unsupervised and continued on my way. I was awoken in the night by the howling of wolves, I leaped up grabbing my sword ready to defend the camp but I noticed that I was the only one-it had been a warm evening and most nomads had chosen to sleep outside on pallets- in fact every other person there was either elderly, child, or like me were only temporarily with this band of nomads. I had several more nights like this until one night I followed some young nomads- Luno and Luna among them- it was that night that I discovered magic was indeed real and that the werewolves which haunt our nightmares are real. I would like to say that I bravely fought them and slayed them all, but I screamed instead. The werewolf that came to me first was Luna and I became entranced by her beauty I felt an unatural longing to be with her to protect her. The other werewolves that appeared seemed surprised to find me gently stroking Luna my sword forgotten they said we were mates and it seemed to bring her great joy to know that I was hers. I then realized why they had laughed when I told them my name. 

Through the rest of my time with the nomads I learned that the elves, dwarves, angels and cat-people and the magic of my grandmother's tale were in fact true. I learned also that the three gods of our land are real and tangible acroos the Dragon's Teeth. But past the safety of those mountains it was no place for men, whose hearts are weak, souls easily corrupted, and minds easily fooled for we were the race that did not take magic when the greymen split from each other. Perhaps I shall hide this transcript from the world.

Recorded by Wulf Blud first king of the Blud Line, and new werewolf at time of death.