himself, "it was only a dream, only a nightmare." 34 That evening he visited a rich friend in the city who was sick to his bed, and could not come to the palace. As he neared a corner, casually speaking to the Warlock of his Guard, an Old Man suddenly appeared before them, and held out his staff across their path.
35 "First Evil," he cried, "you have dreamed a dream. The Lords have permitted you a glimpse of the future, but if you will soften your heart, if you will mend your ways, then there is still hope.
36 The Lords Punishment may not be so severe. Repent your errors. Repent now.
37 There is but a short time remaining for the instrument of your destruction is about to come into your land. Repent! Repent!" 38 The Old Man turned and disappeared around the corner. The Speaker desired to move, and so did his guards, but it was like invisible hands held them for a few moments.
39 Then, suddenly, they were free. "After him!" screamed The Speaker, "Find him, you fools!"
40 The guards hurried off, but returned empty handed.
41 "We cannot find him, Lord," they announced, "all we found were three children playing in the street, pitching pebbles.
42 They swore they saw no one but us, that the street has been empty for hours!
43 Their mother just inside the door, said she heard no one pass."
44 "Curse him!" roared The First Speaker. "Curse him! Who is he?
45 Oh, never mind. Let us return to The Palace. There is still much to do. Our guest will arrive soon, and I want nothing to spoil his visit."
46 The First Speaker had been working for some time, to form an alliance with the King of Fr, to the south.
47 He had plans for expansion, and The Frns and The Children Of The One had been at odds for years.
48 If he could convince the Frn King to join forces with him, they could conquer The Land of The One and split it between them.
49 When the alliance was secure he would announce his plans to make his son heir to The Speakership.
50 No longer would the Council of Elders and Warlocks select the successor, but The Speakership would be like a Kingship, being passed down to his heirs, generation after generation.
51 There were many other Laws he intended to change, too.
52 Many of the rich families agreed with his ideas.
53 If he had known of the conference going on in Fr, between the King and his first born, he would not have been so pleased with himself.
54 For at that very moment The King was saying "My son, you know what you are to do.
55 Promise this fool of a First Speaker anything. Tell him I agree to his insane proposal, that the alliance between us will be formed. But while you are in his land, carry out your real mission.
56 Scout every city, learn the lay of the land, what their defenses are, how much of an army they can put to the field.
57 After you have returned, you will march north at the head of our army, and conquer them.
58 The Land of The One is too strong, and so are the rest of our neighbors.
59 But these Children of Spirit are weak. We will crush them, feast on their men and old women, take their young women and children for slaves.
60 Their cities will be our cities, their gold and silver OUR gold and silver.
61 We will move many of our people north, and the overcrowding of our land will be gone!
62 No longer will we have to kill and eat our old, crippled, feeble-minded when the rains are bad and we don't have enough food.
63 After a few years we will be strong enough to attack our neighbors. Someday, all the world will be ours."
64 "As you have bid, father, I will do," promised The Prince. "By the coming of next fall you will be marching north to visit our new land."
65 So The Prince made ready, and with a grand caravan, marched across the desert, stopping first in Southern to rest a few days he said, for he was weary from his journey.
66 But actually, his scouts were out measuring the city, inspecting its defenses.
67 He marched on, a few days later and visited Western, and repeated the process, then, on to Northern and his unsuspecting host.
68 The First Speaker greeted him at the city gate. He had prepared a triumphant parade through the city, then, on to the Palace.
69 But as they entered the city gate, there was a cry from a rooftop and everyone fell silent and looked up.
70 The Old Man stood there, staff in hand. "Oh, Speaker who would be a King," he cried, "who would forsake The law of The Lords and make his children heirs to The Land hear me!
71 Beware those coming bearing expensive gifts and making many promises.
72 The instrument of your destruction is at hand.
73 There is but little time, and this is your final warning. 74 Repent now, or you are doomed, and all that follow you are doomed! Repent! Repent!" and he was gone.
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