(parchment attached to the letter of Marcos Pigeon — intercepted from within the Council of Shadows of the West and East.)

  *"We swear by iron, by blood, and by the eternity of the Empire… Every race that is not human has only one destiny: slavery or a death certificate.

  The elves — whether of Winter, Summer, Spring, or Autumn — will be hunted, chained, abused, and sold as trophies.

  The demi-humans will be burned until no bones remain. Their forests will be cut down and their rivers poisoned so they may never flourish again.

  Cursed be Kyros Fernandes — if not for him and his Southern dogs, those fugitives would already be weeping at our feet.

  There are five stones in our path: Kotan Aspen, Flora Anapelum, Aurelius Rowan, Helena Summer, and Rubya of the Wild Lands.

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  Even little Tinbell, that insolent fairy, deserves to be locked in an iron cage and displayed as a reminder that no one defies the human throne.

  To meet one of them is certain death — but one day, it will be the opposite.

  And when Darian becomes the next Patriarch, all will fall.

  Messengers speak of a skinny one from Sorriso… they say he is standing out in the festival. Soldiers of the city are moving, as if preparing something.

  Damn skinny one… since when does he play chess in the shadows? Does he want to be the next Kyros? We will not allow it.

  Even if it means he must die."*

  ?? Letter from Marcos Pigeon (attached to the parchment)

  *"I found this parchment in the council of shadows of the rats of East and West. Consider it a gift to you.

  Are you preparing for something?

  There are rats plotting in the shadows too, boy.

  I saw your pieces moving.

  Let’s see how you play, tenth son of Kyros.

  A hug from your godfather,

  Marcos Pigeon."*

  Lukas: — Come, whoever you are. This time, the chessboard will be between generals… and rats have no place.

  END OF VOLUME V