死亡门第二章之序言、及第一章，拜托各位高参多多指正！
精灵之星
序章
“……世界的控制权掌控在我们手中。我们远古以来的敌人……”
“撒屯人（the Sartan）无力阻止我们的优势。他们对被迫生活在我们的原则之下的认知烦扰着他们，那是比苦恼更甚的痛苦。撒屯人决定采取过激的方式，几乎想也不想地做采取了绝望的行动：与其允许我们接管世界，撒屯人摧毁了它。
为了取代原有世界，撒屯人又创造了四个新世界，完全依照旧有的原理：空气、火、石、水。大分裂（大屠杀（the holocaust）中幸存下来的旧世界的种族们被撒屯人传送到这些新世界中生活。而我们，他们远古以来的敌人，被抛进那以迷宫（the Labyrinth）而闻名的魔法监狱。
依照我在耐赛斯城发现的他们的记录，撒屯人希望监狱生活能够使我们“复原（重建）”：即我们在通过在迷宫的磨炼消除了我们极度的作威作福地追求权力（our domineering）他们的术语称之为“残酷”的天性软化之后能够自行走出迷宫。但是他们的计划出了差错。我们那应该管理迷宫的撒屯狱卒失踪了。于是迷宫自己运作起来，由监狱转化为刽子手。”
“我们无数的人民都死在了那个可怕的地方。完整的一代人被抹去了，被消灭了。但是，在死灭之前，每一代人都送它们的孩子们继续向前，每一代都成功地离自由越来越近。最终，借由我非凡的魔法能力，我能够战胜迷宫，第一个逃脱了它的罗网。我通过了终门（the Last Gate），浮现在这个叫做耐赛斯的世界里。在这里，我发现了撒屯人都对我们做了什么。更重要的是，我发现了四个新世界的存在和世界之间的联系。
——我发现了死亡门（Death's Gate）。
我回到迷宫，频繁地回去并且用我的魔法去战斗和稳定其某些部分，倘若在安全避难所中的我的人民继续在他们的囚禁中为自由而斗争着。那些已经成功地来到耐赛斯的人们为我工作，他们修建了城池，为有朝一日，我们的公正地位再度成为宇宙的法则而准备着。在其中最后一项，我通过死亡门向四个世界中的每一个送出探索者（explorers）。”
“……我从众多的为我服务的人中选择了赫不乐（Haplo）有几个特别的原因：他冷静的头脑、他敏捷的思维、他流利地讲述多种不同语言的能力以及他对魔法的熟练操作。赫不乐在他第一次去阿里讷斯空气世界（the Air World of Arianus）的旅行中证明了他自己。他不仅做了其使那个世界瓦解所能做的事并使其陷入全然的战争之中；而且还为我带回来许多有价值的信息，也包括那个孩子—年少的非凡的门徒—祸根（Bane）。
我对赫不乐以及他的造诣非常满意。如果我坚持用挑剔的眼光审视他，只是因为他有一种不合时宜的成为独立思考者的倾向。我对他什么也没说；这一特征在此刻对我有无法估量的价值。实际上，我不认为他对自己了解到恰好意识到他的缺陷。他设想他自己为我而献身。他将毫不犹豫地为我奉献出他的生命。但这是一种贡献出某人生命的事情；另外也是要贡献出某人灵魂的事情。
使四个世界再度结合在一起，击败撒屯人，那将是甜蜜的胜利。但那在赫不乐眼界中又将是更加甜蜜的，当他跪在我面前，报偿我——在他们的心中和头脑中——他们唯一（绝对）的君王和主人——耐赛斯城的主君。帕村人的历史将在大分裂（the Destruction）之后成为世界的历史。
我希望可以加速使你踏上去普瑞恩（Pryan）——火之国度（Realm of Fire）——的行程。不幸的是，我从观察者那里得来确切的消息，那个不可思议的领域在第四百六十三门附近的某处崩溃了。迷宫释放出一大群贪婪的食肉蚁，并且已经杀死了我们成百的人民。我必须进去并参加战斗而且因此不得不在你离开时缺席了。不必说，我自然希望你能留在我身边就像从前在通过无数战斗时你所做的那样，但你的任务非常紧急，我不能将你从你的任务中拖开。
我对你的指示略同于你启程去阿里讷斯（Arianus）之前所收到的。你要，理所当然地，在平民面前坚持隐藏你的魔法能力。就像在阿里讷斯时一样，我们必须保守我们重返世界的秘密。如果撒屯人在我继续进行计划之前发现我，他们将会不惜颠倒天地（就像他们以前所做的那样）来阻止我。
赫不乐，记住你是个观察员。如果可能，尽量不要直接运作去改变那个世界中的事件，只能通过间接到方式行动。当我亲自踏上这些世界时，我不想面对在我名义之下的忠心的代理者的暴行控诉。你在阿里讷斯工作得非常出色，我的儿子，我提及这些防范措施只是作为提醒。
关于普瑞恩——火世界，我们所了解的一点情况不过是它的疆域据称十分辽阔。撒屯人留下的图片中的样式为一个巨大的石球环绕着火的核心，与旧的世界类似却远远大于它。它的个头困扰着我。撒屯人为什么觉得有必要把这个行星制造得如此不可置信地大？另外我不能理解的是：它的太阳在哪里？这些是许多问题之中的一部分，你要尽力去解答。
由于普瑞恩上庞大数量的表面空间，我只能假定它的人口一定趋向于互相分散成小的群体、彼此孤立。我基于这些认识对普瑞恩上撒屯人传送过去的人口数字进行估算。即使发生空前的人口爆炸，精灵、人类、矮人们也不可能扩张到占满如此大片的陆地。一个使徒即使把各个种族联合在一起，就像你从阿里讷斯给我带回来的那个情况一样，在这种环境之下对我也是没有用的。
你被送到普瑞恩基本上是作为一个调查人。尽你所能地去获悉所有关于这个世界和其上居民的情况。而且，就像在阿里讷斯一样，要坚持不懈地去探求某些撒屯符号。即使你发现他们不再（只有一个例外）生存在空气世界里，存在这种可能他们或许逃离了那个世界到普瑞恩寻求被放逐。
赫不乐，要小心、要慎重。别做任何将注意力吸引到你自己身上的事。我在心里拥抱你。我盼望能尽早在你平安、胜利地归来之后用我的手臂拥抱你。你的君主和父亲。
赫不乐，我亲爱的儿子。
我希望我可以这样称呼你。你对我来说就如我曾经作为父亲时的孩子一样亲密。或许这是因为我觉得我在使你复活得过程中扮演了一个角色。当然，我把你从死亡的鬼门关上拉了回来（我把你从死亡的隘口之中救拔了出来），将你的生命归还给你。并且，毕竟，给自己一个儿子，一个生身之父所要做的不过就是在一个女人身上花费一点快乐的时光吗？
摘录自耐赛斯城主私人日记。
第一章
易魁兰，树顶层（EQUILAN, TREETOP LEVEL）
卡兰达·昆的尼亚（CALANDRA QUINDINIAR）坐在巨大的擦亮的用旋涡装饰的桌前累计着上个月的收入。她的洁白的手指飞快而迅捷地在算盘上方运动着，算盘珠子上上下下地滑动着，她在把它们写进一个皮质封面的旧帐本时大声地咕哝着告诉自己数字。她的笔迹就像她自己一样：细瘦、方正、精确并容易读懂。
在她头上旋转着四个由羽毛制成的天鹅翅膀形的扇叶，用来保持空气流动。无论外面怎样有着令人窒息、凝滞的酷热，屋子内部始终保持着凉爽。这里位于城市海拔最高之处，因此才获得些许在浓密生长的丛林植被之下所没有的微风。
这所房子是城中最大的，仅次于王室的宫殿。（林森·昆的尼亚〔Lenthan Quindiniar〕拥有可以建造比王室宫殿更大房屋的资金，但他是个谦虚的了解自己地位的精灵。）有着高高天花板和众多窗户的房间即宽敞又通风良好并有魔法的鼓风扇系统，这是每一个房间具备的最低标准。设在二楼的起居室敞开着开并且经过了良好的修饰。设定的帘子遮蔽使他们在明亮的时轮里觉得凉爽。在暴风雨期间，这些帘子被抬高以捕捉凉爽提神的带着雨水湿气的微风。
卡兰达的小弟弟佩森（Paithan）坐在桌边的摇椅里。他懒洋洋地前后摇动着，手拿一把棕榈扇，看着他姐姐头上旋转的天鹅翅膀。他研究着其他几个显而易见的风扇，从起居室一直到那边的用餐区。他关注着所有这些风扇的翅膀有节奏地鼓荡在空气中，还有算盘珠子发出的滴答声混着他的椅子温和细微的叽嘎声，他跌进了一种几乎是催眠的恍惚之中。
忽然，一阵猛烈地上下撼动着这所三层楼房的爆炸震波把佩森笔直地震了起来。“见鬼！”他说，焦躁地审视从天花板上落到他冷饮之中的细碎的灰泥碎屑。他的姐姐无声地哼了一下什么也没说。她不得不中止了工作以便从帐簿的纸页上吹去泥灰，但没遗漏任何一个数字。可以听到一声恐怖的哀嚎仿佛从地狱传来。“那应该是那个新的帮厨女仆，”佩森边说边站起来，“我最好去安慰她一下，告诉她那不过是父亲？”
“你还是别那么干。”卡兰达猛地说道，即没有抬头也没有中止记录。“你给我坐在那等我做完手头的活儿，因为我们就可以仔细检查你的下一次旅行了（norinth，这个不知道是什么没有翻进去）。这点儿不够赢得你的坚持，和你的贵族朋友一起闲逛，只有奥姆才知道那是什么。另外，那个新来的女孩是个丑陋的人类，就这些。”卡兰达又回到她的加减法中去了。佩森收敛起天生的善良坐回他的椅子里。我早就该知道，他反射性地想，如果卡兰达肯雇佣一个人类，那从根本上讲那个女孩一定是个张着猪脸的不幸的人。那就是对你姐妹般的关爱。噢，好，我很快就会有办法的，因为亲爱的卡莉不知道什么将会伤害她。佩森摇晃着，他姐姐咕哝着，风扇安心地呼呼吹着。
精灵们崇敬生命并且那样如着了魔法般地将其赋予几乎他们所有的创造物。这些羽毛给人一种它们仍然追随着天鹅的幻觉。佩森看着它们，想着这或许是他们整个家族的优秀类似物。他们全都处于那种他们依旧追随着什么的幻想之中，或许恰是彼此追随。
他平和的幻想被一个碳黑的、被烤焦而且不整洁的男人的出现而打断了，那人突然搓着手跃进房间。就像由从死动物的骨骼之中提取的沉积的钙质混合物和用其他组建原理由柔软的糊状物经加工而成的物质制成。“好家伙，你们觉得呢？”他讲。
男人很矮，对于一个精灵来说，同时又明显曾经不象话地肥胖。其肉体近来已经开始松弛，皮肤已经转成菜色并且有些轻微地气喘。虽然不能说比煤灰还脏，灰头发在他头上还是根根直立地围绕着一大块斑秃，透露出他已人到中年。除了他的灰头发，还真难看出这个精灵的年龄。因为他的脸依然非常平整光滑，他的眼睛也非常明亮。他忧虑不安地搓着手从女儿看到儿子。
“好家伙，不是吗？”他重复道。
“当然，老板。”佩森非常幽默地赞同道，“几乎就要把我向后震倒了。”
林森·昆的尼亚牵动地笑着。
“卡兰达？”他继续地问。
“你已经帮助厨子进入歇斯底里的状态并在天花板上制造了新的裂纹，如果这就是您的意思，父亲。”卡兰达反驳着，同时恶意地将算珠噼啪作响地归拢到一起。
“你犯了个错误！”算盘突然尖叫道。
卡兰达怒目瞪视着它，但算盘固执地坚持，“14685加上27不等于14612。应该是14712。你忽略了进位的一。”
“我奇怪我竟然还会计算！瞧你都做了些什么，父亲？”卡兰达质问道。
林森一时之间显得十分气馁，但他几乎片刻之间就恢复了过来。“现在，那不会再用很长时间了，”他边搓着手边说，“这次维持直到火箭升过我的头顶。我觉得我已经接近找出恰当的混合剂了。我会在实验室里，我亲爱的。（如果有人需要我的话）”“听起来真是太好了。”卡兰达喃喃地说。
“噢，别在意老板，”佩森说，带着些消遣的意味地观察着那个精灵旋风般地走着他的路模糊地绕过分类存放的优质家俱，消失在用餐区后面的一扇门里，“自从母亲死后你还能介意他的行为方式吗？”
“我介意他是否健全（正常），如果那是你的意思，但我推想那种要求太高了！在西娅（Thea）的闲逛和爸爸的愚蠢行为之中，我们是全城的笑柄。”
“别担心，我亲爱的姐姐。那些人或许会窃笑，但在你舀起西戾尔（Thillia）主君的财富的时候，他们所作的远远落后于他们的手。除此之外，如果老板健全的话，他一定会转回到生意上来的。”
“哼，”卡兰达喷着鼻息，“不要用那种粗话交谈。你知道我无法容忍它。它是你用来装饰你周围的东西。空闲，成捆的时光被浪费了。”
“错误！”算盘提醒，“那是假定的。”
“我能证实！”卡兰达对最近的冒犯皱着眉并立即回到她的数字累加上去了。
“让那个……那里那个东西去完成工作。”佩森建议道，对算盘做了个手势。
“我不任信机器。肃静！”卡兰达在她弟弟刚要说话时咆哮道。
佩森安静了片刻，摊开他自己并显示出一副好像他有精力唤来仆人给他一杯新的加了香料（咖喱？）的酒以替换有灰泥的那一杯。但是这个年轻精灵的天性是与长时间保持安静背道而驰的。
“说到西娅，她在哪儿？”他问，扫视着四周就像他预计会看见她从那个椅子罩下面出现一样。
“当然在床上。现在还不是‘饮酒时刻’，”他姐姐回答，谈及最近的时期被唤作“暴风雨”的时轮 中，那时所有的精灵都停下他们的工作并借由一杯调味酒（鸡尾酒）放松一下。
佩森摇晃着。他觉得十分无聊。凼准（Durndrun）领主正在他的林间池塘上正要进行一次团队航行并在那之后进行野餐晚宴，假若佩森计划参加的话，现在正是他着手更衣、登程的时候。即使不是贵族出身，这个年轻的精灵也足够富有、足够英俊、足够迷人去开创他进入有教养的社会的道路。他缺乏贵族般的教养却有足够的聪慧去承认它并且从来不去假装他是个中层商人的儿子以外的其他什么东西。事实上，他的中层商人父亲恰好是这个易魁兰最富有的人，甚至（有谣言道）比王后本人还要富有，对弥补佩森偶尔行为上粗俗的过失来说是太过有余了。
这个年轻的精灵是一个好心的同伴，他经常随意地花费他的钱财，就像一位领主所说的，“他是个有趣的恶棍诉说着最粗野的流言……”
佩森所受的教育来自社会而非书本。讫自他母亲下世的转折，约是八年前，他父亲后来又沉沦于愚蠢的行为和糟糕的健康状况之中，佩森和他年长的姐姐就接管了家中的产业。卡兰达在家中掌管这个欣欣向荣的武器公司的金融方面。即使精灵们参战不过一百年时间，人类还只是喜欢沿袭惯例，并恰好习用精灵族创造的用魔法发动的武器。佩森的工作就是走出去到世界之中，谈判生意，办理某些发货方面手续，并使客户满意。
从而，他已经旅行到过西戾尔所有的领土，有一次冒险甚至远到了北方海王的国度去了。从另一方面来讲，精灵贵族们，很少离开他们在树顶高处的不动产。他们中的许多个甚至从未到过易魁兰低层的地方，那还是他们自己女王的国度呢。佩森是，怎么说哪，被看作是一个不可思议的诡异存在并因此而得到殷勤的奉承。佩森知道领主和女士们让他呆在附近就像他们豢养他们的宠物猴子来愉悦他们。他并没有被精灵上层社会所接纳。他和他的家族每年被招至王室的宫殿一次不过是女王迁就那些保持她保险箱长满的人的行为，但那也就是全部了。他们中没有人会为佩森操一点点心。
那些个精灵的知识是不足二分之一的时髦或者四分之一的富足而导致瞧不起昆的尼亚家的成员，只因为他们不能回溯他们的家族历史到大分裂（Plague）引起的仇恨之前，这就像扎在卡兰达心口上的箭伤一样。她对“贵族阶级”没有用处同时又使她蔑视平民，至少对她的年少的弟弟来说。并且她极端地认为佩森不能分享他她的感受。
佩森，无论如何，发觉精灵贵族们非常有意思，根他们看待他一样。他了解如果他被允许与十位公爵任意一个的女儿结婚，那就会引起一阵叹息、号啕、和泪雨伴随着哪位“亲爱的孩子”与平民联姻？并且婚礼会被尽可能地、正派地从快举行。贵族的房产，毕竟，是一项昂贵的供养。
这个年轻的精灵对结婚不感兴趣，至少不是现在。他正在进行一项探险，去漫游每个精灵探险家家族所发现领域的疏漏之处。，现在，他已经在家呆了将近整整一季了，是他重新踏上征途的时候了，这是他在应该出去操着短桨在某些娇媚的年轻女士之中划行时坐在其姐姐身边的一个原因。然而卡兰达，完全沉浸在她的计算之中，显然已经忘记了他的存在。佩森突然决定：如果他再听见一次算珠的滴答声他就要用“卑微”的“他那一堆”的粗俗俚语措辞使卡兰达咬紧牙关。
佩森有一些关于他姐姐的他特别为这种场合保留的新闻。那会引起一场同族之间的就像刚才撼动了房子的“爆炸”，但那样可以震松卡兰达的立场然后他就可以开溜了。
“你怎么看父亲打发掉的那个人类牧师？”他问。
从他进入到这个房间起，他姐姐居然停止了她的计算，抬起了头看着他，“什么？”
“父亲打发掉那个人类牧师，我以为你知道。”佩森很快地眨眨眼，显得很无辜。
卡兰达的黑眼睛闪烁着。薄嘴唇撅了起来。用印着墨迹明显是专用的织物仔细擦着钢笔，她在帐簿的顶端适当的地方小心地放好它，然后把全部的注意力转移到她的兄弟身上。
卡兰达不能算是漂亮。家族之中所有的美丽，如果有的话，都被都被保留起来给予了她的小妹妹。卡莉比骨瘦如柴的标准还要瘦。（佩森，在他还是个孩子的时候，曾经由于问他姐姐的鼻子是否被榨汁机压过而被打了一顿屁股。）现在，在她的青春褪去之后，看起来似乎她整个脸都已经被挤压过和收缩了。她把她的头发用一个绳结向后拉紧到头顶上，由三个看起来致命的有锋利突出尖角的梳子管束起来。她的皮肤死白，因为她很少走出门外，即使出去也随身带着一把阳伞将她从阳光中保护起来。她严谨的穿着是由同一个模式制造出来的一直包到下巴，她的裙子一直拖拉到地板上。卡兰达从来不在意她不漂亮。美丽之于女人是使她们诱捕男人的陷阱，而卡兰达从来不需要男人。
“到底什么人，”卡兰达柔和地说，“那些消耗你的金钱，干涉你的生活的傀儡？”
除我之外所有的人，佩森心想。而且用于卡兰达完全适合。“我不相信你，”他的姐姐说。
“你的确是。”佩森享受着自己的乐趣。“你知道，老爸，对不起，那些人活络的舌头有足够疯狂到去做任何事情。”
“你怎么觉察到的？”
“我在最上层老罗里那里撞上的，上次晚饭之前差一刻钟要去领主那里的时候。”
“我对你要去那里不感兴趣。”一道皱纹在卡兰达前额显现。“你没有从老罗里哪儿听到这条谣言是吧？”
“确实如此，亲爱的姐姐。我们古怪的父亲去过酒馆，谈论他的火箭并带去他曾经打发过的人类牧师的消息。”
“在酒馆里！”卡兰达的眼睛惊恐地睁大了，“那里……很多人听他说么？”
“噢，是的，”佩森高兴地说，“那是他的惯例时间，你知道，就在饮酒时间那个地方被挤满了。”
卡兰达发出一声呻吟，她的手指弯曲着在大声抗议的算盘结构的周围攥成拳头。
“或许……那是他想象的。”她的舌头仍然无望地发着声音。他们的父亲有时在他的疯狂之中真是太健全了。
佩森摇着他的头。“不是。我跟驯鸟者谈过了。他的无误者 给西戾尔的格里高利领主带来了消息。那个消息称：易魁兰的林森·昆的尼亚要与一个人类的牧师协商星际旅行的事宜。食物和住宿的花费大约五百石 。”
卡兰达又一次的叹息。“我们要有麻烦了！”她咬着嘴唇。
“不，不，我不这样认为。”佩森对引起这样的苦恼感到有些懊悔。他伸出手去轻轻拍了拍他姐姐攥成拳头的手。“我们这次会走运的，卡莉。人类牧师住在修道院里而且对贫穷和之类的事情有着严格的誓约。他们不能接受钱财。而且他们在西戾尔有着不错的生活，更不用说事实上他们有着强有力的统治层级。他们都是能够出色地对父亲的温和地负责任的，同时没有一个人会只是打起包裹冲到荒野里去的。”
“但是有机会去改变一个精灵的信仰呢？”
“去他的！他们不像我们的牧师们。他们没有时间去改变任何人。他们只对玩弄政治和试图找回失落的主人（the Lost Lords）关心。”
“你能确定？”卡兰达苍白的面颊上恢复了一些颜色。
“嗯，不确定，”佩森承认。“但是，我已经在人类周围呆了些时候；我了解他们。他们不想进入我们的国土，其一，他们不喜欢我们；其二，我不认为我们必须对这个牧师会来到上层而担心。”
“但是，理由？”卡兰达讯问道，“为什么爸爸要做这样一件事情？”
“因为人类认为生命是由星辰那里来的，那些是真正和真实的城市，有一天，当我们这下面的世界处于混乱之中的时候，失踪的主人们会回来带领我们回去。”
“那是胡说！”卡兰达清脆地说，“所有人都知道生命是由帕村·撒屯而来，她是天堂的女主人，她为了她最终会死去的孩子创造了这个世界。那些星辰是她不朽的孩子，在上面观察着我们。”她看上去震惊了，充分的暗示启示了她，“你的意思不是说父亲居然会相信这个吧？怎么会这样……那是异端邪说！”
“我想他就要开始相信了，”佩森用更加阴沉的语调说，“那个使他有所感觉，卡莉，当你去想它的时候。他在母亲死前就在试验用火箭传送货物。接着，她离去了而我们的牧师告诉他：母亲已经进入天堂，成为一个不朽的孩子。他的头脑滑入了一个小小的骗局即产生了用火箭去找母亲的想法。现在他迷失在下一个骗局并且判断或许她并不是成为了不朽的什么而只是生活在那里，即安全又舒适，在那些城市之中的某一个里。”
“保佑吧！”卡兰达再次叹息。她静静地坐了一会儿，凝视着算盘，她的手指抽搐地前后拨弄着算珠，前前后后、前前后后。“我要跟他谈谈。”她最终说道。
佩森努力地使他的脸保持在控制之下。“是的，那或许是个好主意，卡莉。你去跟他说。”
卡兰达站了起来，她沙沙作响的裙子呆板地环绕在她周围。她踌躇着，低头看着她的弟弟，“我们下次装船的时候再讨论这些事？”
“那些可以等到明天。这件事比较重要。”
“哼。你不用假装看上去那么关心。我一直知道你是什么东西，佩森。你想要出去和你的好朋友一起进行一些放松头脑的外出散步而不是呆在家里，考虑你应该考虑的生意吧。但你是对的，虽然你可能没有足够的头脑去理解它。这件事更重要。”一个沉闷的声音从底层爆发出来，一声盘子坠落的碎裂声，混合着一声厨子的尖叫。卡兰达叹道：“我要跟他谈谈，虽然我不得不说我怀疑那是否会向好的方向发展。或许我只能让他保持沉默！”
她砰然放下帐簿。紧抿着嘴唇，背影笔直得就像一棵桥柱树（a bridgepole tree），她向着用餐区远端的那扇门的方向行进而去。她的臀部就像她的背一样笔直，卡兰达·昆的尼亚行走时裙子一点也没有迷人的摇摆动作。
佩森摇着他的头。“可怜的老板，”他说的时候有着一瞬间真实的同情感。接着，弹了弹悬空的棕榈叶制成的扇子，他去他自己的房间穿衣服。
另附上原文
PROLOGUE
". . .WORLD DOMINATION WAS WITHIN OUR GRASP. OUR ANCIENT ENEMY,
the Sartan, was powerless to prevent our ascendency. The knowledge that they would be forced to live under our rule was galling to them, bitter as wormwood. The Sartan determined to take drastic measures, committing an act of desperation almost impossible to conceive. Rather than permit us to take over the world, the Sartan destroyed it.
"In its place, the Sartan created four new worlds, formed out of the elements of the old: Air, Fire, Stone, and Water. The peoples of the world who survived the holocaust were transported by the Sartan to live in these new worlds. We, their ancient enemy, were cast into a magical prison known as the Labyrinth.
"According to their records that 1 discovered in the Nexus, the Sartan hoped that prison life would 'rehabilitate' us, that we would emerge from the Labyrinth chastened, our domineering and, what they term 'cruel,' natures softened. But something went wrong with their scheme. Our Sartan jailers, those who were to control the Labyrinth, disappeared. The Labyrinth itself took over, and turned from prison to executioner.
"Countless numbers of our people have died in that fearsome place. Entire generations have been wiped out, destroyed. But, before it died, each generation sent its children forward, each succeeding generation drew nearer and nearer to freedom. At last, through my extraordinary powers of magic, I was able to defeat the Labyrinth, the first to escape its toils. I passed through the Last Gate and emerged into this world, known as the Nexus. Here, I discovered what had been done to us by the Sartan. More . importantly, I discovered the existence of four new worlds and the connections between the worlds. I discovered Death's Gate.
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?* WEIS AND HICKMAN w"I returned to the Labyrinth桰 return frequently梐nd used my magic to fight and stabilize parts of it, providing safe havens for the rest of my people still struggling to free themselves from their bonds. Those who have succeeded come to the Nexus and work for me, building up the city, making ready for the day when, once again, we will take our rightful place as rulers of the universe. To this end, I am sending explorers through the Death's Gate into each of the four worlds."1
"... I chose Haplo from the large number of people in my service for several reasons: his coolheadedness, his quick thinking, his ability to speak fluently the various languages, and his skill in magic. Haplo proved himself in his first journey to the Air World of Arianus. Not only did he do what he could to disrupt the world and plunge it into a devastating war, he also provided me with much valuable information, as well as a young disciple梐 remarkable child known as Bane.
"I am quite pleased with Haplo and his accomplishments. If I keep a sharp eye on him, it is because he has an unfortunate tendency to be an independent thinker. I say nothing to him; this trait is invaluable to me at the moment. In fact, I do not believe that he himself is even aware of his flaw. He imagines himself to be dedicated to me. He would sacrifice his life for me without hesitation. But it is one thing to offer up one's life, it is another to offer up one's soul.
"Reuniting the four worlds, defeating the Sartan梩hese will be sweet victories. But how much sweeter will be the sight of Haplo and those like him kneeling before me, acknowledging me, in their hearts and in their minds, their absolute lord and master."2
Haplo, my dear son.
I hope I may term you thus. You are as dear to me as the children I have fathered. Perhaps that is because I feel that I played a role in your birth梠r rebirth. Certainly I plucked you from the jaws of death and gave you back your life. And, after
'The Lord of the Nexus, History of the Patryns Following the Destruction of the World. 2Exceipt from the private diaries of the Lord of the Nexus.
Elve n Star
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all, what does a natural father do to get himself a son except spend a few pleasurable moments with a woman?
I had hoped to be able to speed you on your journey to Pryan, Realm of Fire. Unfortunately, 1 received word from the watchers that the magical field is crumbling somewhere near the four hundred and sixty-third gate. The Labyrinth has unleashed a swarm of flesh-devouring ants that have killed several hundreds of our people. I must go in and do battle and will, therefore, be absent when you leave. Needless to say, I wish you were at my side as you have been through countless other fights, but your mission is urgent, and I will not take you from your dune;
My instructions to you are similar to those you received setting off for Arianus. You will, of course, keep your magical powers hidden from the populace. As in Arianus, we must keep our return to the world secret. If the Sartan discover me before i am ready to proceed with my plans, they would move heavei and earth (as they did once before) to stop me.
Remember, Haplo, that you are an observer. If possible, take no direct action to alter events in the world, act through indirect means only. When I enter these worlds myself, I do not want to face accusations that my agents committed atrocities in my name. You did an excellent job in Arianus, my son, and I mention this precaution only as a reminder.
About Pryan, the World of Fire, we know little except that its area is purportedly vast. The model left behind by the Sartan pictures a gigantic ball of stone surrounding a core of fire, similar to the ancient world but far, far larger. It is the size that puzzles me. Why did the Sartan feel the need to make this planet so incredibly immense? Something else I do not quite understand and that is梬here is its sun? These are among the many questions you will endeavor to answer.
Because of the enormous amount of land space on Pryan, I can only assume that its population must tend to be scattered about in small groups, isolated from each other. I base this on knowledge of the estimated number of people the Sartan transported to Pryan. Even with an unprecedented population explosion, the elves, humans, and dwarves could never have expanded to cover such a large land mass. A disciple to draw the people together, such as you brought me from Arianus, will be of no use to me under such circumstances.
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WEIS AND HICKMAN
You are being sent to Pryan primarily as investigator. Learn all you can about this world and its inhabitants. And, as in Arianus, search diligently for some sign of the Sartan. Although you did not (with one exception) discover them living in the World of Air, it is possible that they may have fled that world and sought exile on Pryan.
Be careful, Haplo, be circumspect. Do nothing to draw attention to yourself. I embrace you in my heart. I look forward to embracing you in my arms on your safe and successful return. Your lord and father.3
CHAPTER ?1
EQUILAN, TREETOP LEVEL
3Hapk>, Pryan, World of Fire, vol. 2 of Death Gate journals.
CALANDRA QUINDINIAR SAT AT THE HUGE POLISHED SCROLL DESK ADDING up the last month's earnings. Her white fingers darted rapidly over the abacus, sliding the beads up and down, muttering the figures aloud to herself as she wrote them in the old leather-bound ledger. Her handwriting was much like herself: thin, upright, precise, and easy to read.
Above her head whirled four plumes made of swans' feathers, keeping the air moving. Despite the suffocating midcycle heat outside, the interior of the house was cool. It stood on the highest elevation in the city and so obtained the breeze that Otherwise was often lost in the jungle vegetation.
The house was the largest in the city, next to the royal palace. (Lenthan Quindiniar had the money to build his house larger than the royal palace, but he was a modest elf and knew his place,) The rooms were spacious and airy with high ceilings and numerous windows and the magical system of flutterfans, at least one in every room. The living rooms were on the second floor and were open and beautifully furnished. Drawn shades darkened and cooled them during bright hours of the cycle. During stormtime, the shades were raised to catch the refreshing, rain-drenched breezes.
Calandra's younger brother, Paithan, sat in a rocking chair near the desk. He rocked lazily back and forth, a palm fan in his hand, and watched the rotation of the swans' wings above his sister's head. Several other fans were visible to him from the
*5?
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WEIS AND HICKMAN
Elve n Star
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study梩he fan in the living room and beyond that the fan in the dining area. He watched them all waft through the air and between the rhythmic flutter of the wings and the clicking of the beads of the abacus and the gentle creaking of his chair, he fell into an almost hypnotic trance.
A violent explosion that shook the three-level house jolted Paithan upright.
"Damn," he said, looking irritably at a fine sifting of plaster' that was falling from the ceiling into his iced drink.
His sister snorted and said nothing. She had paused to blow
plaster off the page of the ledger, but did not miss a figure. A
wail of terror could be heard, coming from the level down below.
"That'll be the new scullery maid," said Paithan, rising to his
feet. "I better go and comfort her, tell her it's only father?
"You'll do no such thing," snapped Calandra, neither raising her head nor ceasing to write. "You'll sit right there and wait until I'm finished so that we can go over your next trip norinth. It's little enough you do to earn your keep, idling about with your noble friends, doing Orn knows what. Besides, the new girl's a human and an ugly one at that."
Calandra returned to her addition and subtraction. Paithan subsided good-naturedly back into his chair.
I might have known, he reflected, that if Calandra'd hire a human at all the girl'd be some little pig-faced wretch. That's sisterly love for you. Ah, well, I'll be on the road soon and then what dear Cal doesn't know won't hurt her.
Paithan rocked, his sister muttered, the fans whirred contentedly.
The elves revere life and so magically endow it on nearly all their creations. The feathers were under the illusion that they were still attached to the swan. Paithan, watching them, thought that this might be a good analogy for their entire family. They were all under the illusion that they were still attached to something, perhaps even each other.
His peaceful reverie was interrupted by the appearance of a charred, singed, and disheveled man, who bounded into the room, rubbing his hands.
'Made from a compound of calcium deposits taken from the bones of dead animals and processed with other organic elements to form a pliable paste.
"That was a good one, don't you think?" he said.
The man was short, for an elf, and had obviously once been robustly plump. The flesh had begun to sag lately; the skin had turned sallow and slightly puffy. Though it could not be told beneath the soot, the gray hair standing up around a large bald spot on his head revealed that he was in his middle years. Other than his graying hair, it might have been difficult to guess the elfs age because his face was smooth and unwrinkled梩oo 1 smooth. His eyes were bright梩oo bright. He rubbed his hands and looked anxiously from daughter to son.
'That was a good one, wasn't it?" he repeated.
"Sure, Guvnor," said Paithan in good-humored agreement. '^Nearly knocked me over backward."
Lenthan Quindiniar smiled jerkily.
"Calandra?" he persisted.
"You've sent the kitchen help into hysterics and put new cracks in the ceiling, if that's what you mean, Father," retorted Calandra, snapping the beads together viciously.
"You've made a mistake!" squeaked the abacus suddenly.
Calandra glared at it, but the abacus held firm. "Fourteen thousand six hundred eighty-five add twenty-seven is not fourteen thousand six hundred twelve. If s fourteen thousand seven hundred twelve. You've neglected to cany the one."
"I'm surprised I can still reckon at all! See what you've done, Father?" Calandra demanded.
?Lenthan appeared rather downcast for a moment, but he cheered up almost immediately.
"It won't be long now," he said, rubbing his hands. "That last one lifted the rocket above my head. I think I'm close to discovering the proper mixture. I'll be in the laboratory, my (tears, if anyone needs me."
"That's likely!" muttered Calandra.
"Oh, ease up on the guvnor," said Paithan, watching with some amusement as the elf wound his way vaguely around the assortment of fine furnishings to disappear through a door at the back of the dining area. "Would you rather have him the way he was after Mother died?"
"I'd rather have him sane, if that's what you mean, but I suppose thaf s too much to ask! Between Thea's gallivanting and Papa's idiocy, we're the laughing stock of the city."
*8?WEIS AND HICKMAN
"Don't worry, Sister dear. The people may snigger but, with you scooping up the money of the Lords of Thillia, they do so behind their hands. Besides, if the guvnor was sane he'd be back in the business."
"Humpf," snorted Calandra. "And don't use that slang talk. You know I can't abide it: It's what comes of hanging around with that crowd of yours. Idle, time-wasting bunch of?
"Wrong!" informed the abacus. "It's supposed to be?
"I'll do it!" Calandra frowned over her latest entry and irritably went back to add up her figures again.
"Let that. . . that thing there do the work," suggested Paithan, motioning to the abacus.
"I don't trust machines. Hush up!" Calandra snarled when her brother would have spoken.
Paithan sat quietly for several moments, fanning himself and wondering if he had the energy to call for the servant to bring him a fresh glass of vindrech梠ne that didn't have plaster in it. But it was against the young elf's nature to be silent for long.
"Speaking of Thea, where is she?" he asked, peering about as if he expected to see her emerge from under one of the antimacassars.
"In bed, of course. It's not winetime yet," returned his sister, referring to that period late in the cycle2 known as "storm" when all elves cease their work and relax over a glass of spiced wine.
Paithan rocked. He was getting bored. Lord Durndrun was having a group over for sailing on his treepond and a picnic supper after, and' if Paithan was planning to attend it was high time he set about getting dressed and on his way. Although not of noble birth, the young elf was rich enough, handsome enough, and charming enough to make his way into the society of the gently bred. He lacked the education of the nobility but was smart enough to admit it and not try to pretend he was anything other than what he was梩he son of a middle-class businessman. The fact that his middle-class businessman father happened to be
2Elven society in Equilan regulates time as follows: one hundred minutes to an hour, twenty-one hours in a cycle, fifty cycles to a season, and five seasons to a year. Time measurement varies from place to place on Pryan, according to the local weather conditions. Unlike the planet Arianus, where there is day and night, the sun never sets on Pryan.
&|ven Star ?*
(he wealthiest man in all of Equilan, wealthier even (so it was rumored) than the queen herself, more than made up for Paithan's occasional lapses into vulgarity.
The young elf was a good-hearted companion who spent his money freely and, as one of the lords said, "He is an interesting devil梒an tell the wildest tales ..."
Paithan's education came from the world, not from books. Knee his mother's death, some eight years previous, and his father's subsequent descent into madness and ill-health, Paithan and his elder sister had taken over the family business. Calandra stayed at home and handled the monetary side of the prosperous weapons company. Although the elves hadn't gone to war in more than a hundred years, the humans were still fond of the practice and even fonder of the magical elven weapons created to wage it. It was Paithan's job to go out into the world, negotiate the deals, make certain that shipments were delivered, and keep the customers happy.
Consequently, he had traveled over all the lands of Thillia and had once ventured as far as the realm of the SeaKings to the norinth. Noble elves, on the other hand, rarely left their estates high in the treetops. Many had never been to the lower parts of Equilan, their own queendom. Paithan was, therefore, looked upon as a marvelous oddity and was courted as such.
Paithan knew the lords and ladies kept him around much as they kept their pet monkeys梩o amuse them. He was not truly accepted into higher elven society. He and his family were invited to the royal palace once a year梩he queen's concession to those who kept her coffers full梑ut that was all. None of which bothered Paithan in the least.
The knowledge that elves who weren't half as smart or one-fourth as rich looked down on the Quindiniars because they couldn't trace their family back to the Plague rankled like an arrow wound in Calandra's breast. She had no use for the "peerage" and made her disdain plain, at least to her younger brother. And she was extremely put out that Paithan didn't share her feelings.
Paithan, however,, found the noble elves nearly as amusing as they found him. He knew that if he proposed marriage to any one of ten dukes' daughters there would be gasps and wailings and tears at the thought of the "dear child" marrying a commoner?
.10* WEIS AND HICKMAN and the wedding would be held as fast as decently possible. Noble houses, after all, are expensive to maintain.
The young elf had no intention of marrying, at least not yet. He came of an exploring, wandering family梩he very elven explorers who had discovered omite. He had been home for nearly a full season now and it was time he was on his way again, which was one reason he was sitting here with his sister when he should be out rowing around some charming young woman in a scull. But Calandra, absorbed in her calculations, appeared to have forgotten his very existence. Paithan decided suddenly that if he heard one more bead click he would go "potty"梐 slang expression of "his crowd" that would have set Calandra's teeth on edge,
Paithan had some news for his sister that he'd been saving for just such an occasion. It would cause an explosion akin to the one that had rocked the house previously, but it might shake Calandra loose and then he could escape.
"What do you think of Father's sending for that human priest?" he asked.
For the first time since he entered the room, his sister actually stopped her calculations, lifted her head, and looked at him. "What?"
"Father's sending for the human priest. I thought you knew." Paithan blinked rapidly, to appear innocent.
Calandra's dark eyes glinted. The thin lips pursed. Wiping the pen with careful deliberation on an ink-stained cloth used expressly for this purpose, she laid it down carefully in its proper place on the top of the ledger and turned to give her hill attention to her brother.
Calandra had never been pretty. All the beauty in the family, it was said, had been saved up and given to her younger sister. Cal was thin to the point of boniness. (Paithan, when a child, had once been spanked for asking if his sister's nose had been caught in a winepress.) Now, in her fading youth, it appeared as if her entire face had been caught and pinched. She wore her hair pulled back in a tight knot at the top of her head, held in place by three lethal-looking, sharp-pointed combs. Her skin was dead white, because she rarely went out of doors and then carried a parasol to protect her from the sun. Her severe dresses were made after the same pattern梑uttoned to her chin, her
Star
11*
skirts trailing the floor. Calandra had never minded that she wasn't pretty. Beauty was given a woman so that she could trap a man, and Cal had never wanted a man.
"What are men, after all," Calandra was fond of saying, "but creatures who spend your money and interfere in your life?"
All except me, thought Paithan. And thaf s because Calandra's brought me up properly.
"I don't believe you," said his sister.
"Yes, you do." Paithan was enjoying himself. "You know the guv梥orry, slip of the tongue桭ather's crazy enough to do just about anything."
"How did you find out?"
"I popped梥topped in at old Rory's last suppertime for a quick one before going to Lord?
"I'm not interested in where you were going." A line had appeared in Calandra's forehead. "You didn't hear this rumor 昮rom old Rory, did you?"
" 'Fraid so, Sister dear. Our batty papa had been in the pub, talkin' about his rockets and comes out with the news that he's sent for a human priest."
"In the pub!" Calandra's eyes widened in horror. "Were there . . . many who heard him?"
"Oh, yes," said Paithan cheerfully. "It was his usual time, you know, right during winetime and the place was packed."
Calandra emitted a low groan, her fingers curled around the frame of the abacus, which protested loudly.
"Maybe he ... imagined it." Her tone sounded hopeless, however. Their father was sometimes all too sane in his madness.
Paithan shook his head. "Nope. 1 talked to the birdman. His faultless3 carried the message to Lord Gregory of Thillia. The note said that Lenthan Quindiniar of Equilan wanted to consult with a human priest about travel to the stars. Food and lodging provided and five hundred stones."4
3A winged fowl of the segrouse family used for long-distance communication. A faultless, once properly trained, will fly unerringly between two points.
The medium of exchange of Equilan. It is a paper equivalent of stones, whkh themselves are extremely rare, being found generally only at the very bottom of the world.
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WEIS AND HICKMAN
Elve n Star
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Calandra groaned again. "We'll be besieged!" She gnawed
her lip.
"No, no, I don't think so." Paithan felt somewhat remorseful at being the cause of such agony. He reached out and patted his sister's clenched hand. "We may be lucky this time, Callie. Human priests live in monasteries and take strict vows of poverty and such like. They couldn't accept the money. And they have life pretty good in Thillia, not to mention the fact that they have a strongly organized hierarchy. They're all answerable to some soft of father superior, and one couldn't just pack up and head out for the wilds."
"But the chance to convert an elf?
"Pooh! They're not like our priests. They haven't time to convert anybody. They're mainly concerned with playing politics and trying to bring back the Lost Lords."
"You're certain?" Calandra had regained some color in the pale cheeks.
"Well, not certain," Paithan admitted. "But I've been around humans a lot and I know them. They don't like coming into our lands, for one thing. They don't like us, for another. I don't think we have to worry about this priest turning up."
"But why?" Calandra demanded. "Why would Papa do such a thing?"
"Because of the human belief that life came from the stars, which are really and truly cities, and that someday, when our world here below is in chaos, the Lost Lords will return and lead
us back."
"That's nonsense!" Calandra said crisply. "All know life came from Peytin Sartan, Matriarch of Heaven, who created this world for her mortal children. The stars are her immortal children, watching over us." She looked shocked, the full implication dawning on her. "You don't mean to say that Father actually believes this? Why that . . . that's heresy!"
"I think he's beginning to," said Paithan, more somberly. "It makes sense for him, Callie, when you think about it. He was experimenting with using rockets to transport goods before Mother died. Then, she leaves and our priests tell him that Mother's gone to heaven to be one of the immortal children. His mind slips one little cog and he lights on the idea of using rockets to go find Mother. Now he misses the next cog and decides that
maybe she's not immortal but is living up there, safe and well, in some sort of city."
"Blessed Orn!" Calandra groaned again. She sat silent for several moments, staring at the abacus, her fingers twitching one of the beads back and forth, back and forth. "I'll go talk to him," she said at last.
Paithan carefully kept his face under control. "Yes, that might be a good idea, Callie. You go talk to him."
Calandra rose to her feet, her skirts rustling stiffly about her. She paused, and looked down at her brother. "We were going to discuss this next shipment?
"That can wait until tomorrow. This is much more important."
"Humpf. You needn't pretend to look so concerned. I know what you're up to, Paithan. You'll be off on some scatter-brained outing with your fine friends instead of staying home, minding your business as you ought. But you're right, though you probably don't have brains enough to know it. This is more important." A muffled explosion came from below, a crash of falling plates, and a scream from the kitchen. Calandra sighed. "I'll go talk with him, though I'm bound to say I doubt if it'll do much good. If I could just get him to keep his mouth shut!"
She slammed down the ledger. Lips compressed, back straight as a bridgepole tree, she marched in the direction of the door at the far end of the dining area. Her hips were straight as her back; no alluring swaying of skirt for Calandra Quindiniar.
Paithan shook his head. "Poor Guvnor," he said with a .moment's feeling of true pity. Then, flipping the palm frond fan in the air, he went to his room to get dressed.
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