BOOK SIXTEEN
THE BOOK OF
MORNING STAR
Chapter One
Now, in The 2,649th Season From The
Beginning, The Lord God of Haven grew tired of the Hashon slaves that
tended his palace. "When these Hashons first came here," he remarked,
"they had character, but now, after many seasons of captivity they have
become dull and boring.
I want fresh slaves, new blood that has not been born on Haven.
2 Send word to my Governors on Hades. I want them to select
five-hundred new servants for me, two-hundred-and-fifty males, and
two-hundred-and-fifty females. I want them all to be unspoiled, the
finest of their race. Have them shipped here immediately!"
3 So it was, the Governors selected men and women from each of their
provinces, sending them to the capitol. There The High Governor viewed
the candidates and chose the very best ones to be loaded on a passenger
pod, taken up to a waiting warship, and transported to Haven.
4 Many mothers wept because their child was taken away. One of those to
go was Bright Blossom Sword, a descendant of Bold Sword, The Prince of
Fr, of The Hawk and The Dove. The blood of many great lines flowed in
her veins.
5 Her beauty and charm was so great that when The Lord God's wife saw
her, she made her her personal servant, so she was seen by The Lord God
often. He, too, was taken by her beauty, gracious manner, and her skill
at games. For unlike others she would not let The Lord God win, merely
to please him, but did her best in every contest.
6 "Be careful, Golden One," The Lord God's Aides warned her. "Someday
he may take offense at your skill and punish you."
7 ''If he punishes me for doing my best," Golden One