PROLOGUE

PROLOGUE

Excerpt: 11th scroll, verse 1-6; the great book.

The streets of Nottingham

In Nottingham, there is a healer. He knows you are coming, but he is not waiting for you, for he knows something you do not; Nottingham lies embraced by one who brings light. Oh what a treacherous guide he shall prove to be. We pray you forget him, should you escape his grasp.

The healer knows you seek him, but he won’t be waiting, for he knows something you do not; if the sun did spare you, his touch strayed your mind, nobody makes it to Nottingham; this the healer knows.

Seek not a way in the rising darkness. None was made. Instead, flee the devil at your heels, for three dark nights you will hear him singing in the wind. We beseech you, do not turn to the shadows that trail you. May the darkness be your guide.

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Auckly Simwinga

In Nottingham, there is indeed a healer, and he knows you are coming, but he is not waiting for you, for he remembers something you clearly do not. If your face does not bear the white paint of the mother, then still something of you was lost to the mountain. None can touch the gates of Nottingham; this the healer knows.

If you are not dead, dear traveller, proceed with caution. The demauglers are upon you. Do not turn back; the way home no longer exists. Abandon the path of the caravans when the words on the wind lose their meaning. It is your heart that will hear this; your ears would have long since failed you. You are closer, dear stranger. This will guide you no more.

A healer walks the streets of Nottingham. Seek him out, he will not find you, for he knows something you do not. If you are not dead, you have lost your mind; listening to the wind has brought this upon you. If the wind did spare you, the demauglers made you stranger. Nobody makes it to Nottingham; this the healer knows.

My poor fellow, I urge you to pray. Death has found you. We warned you, we told you, nobody makes it to

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THE STREETS OF NOTTINGHAM

Nottingham. Flee as you pray, listen while you pray, oh dear god! As you pray, seek the gates of Nottingham. If you should find water, ask her where the gates lie. We pray you find the gates of Nottingham. Nobody was ever meant to come this far.

If you should find the gates, you dare not knock; there is no one home to hear you. Do not seek a key; none was made. Even we do not know what lies behind these gates. Except that, in Nottingham, there is a healer. He knows you are coming, but he is not waiting for you.

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