Chapter Prologue: A Letter
Dear Ma,
I know I haven't written to you in a long time, almost a year. I'm sorry for that. Being in the military made me forget, though I know that's not a good excuse. I truly have missed you and the boys. I wish I could come home, but invasions from the Surakh have kept us fighting at the Border all through summer. It's so cold up here. A warm bowl of your potato-soup would really work wonders up here. My gods, I miss you so much.
But I guess it's not completely awful over at Raginwald. A few of my mates, and some men from our village, are here with me. There's Jimmy, the blacksmith's boy, of course you remember him. Then there's Montaigne, Jess's youngest son. He's all grown up now. I've met a few new guys too. One of them's a Tree-Man, his name is Sunshade I think. Then there's this guy who's a robot. I know you never liked machines much, I can remember you saying they were "demons in metal shells", but they're really not that bad once you get to know some of them, Ma. He's an Asimov-Machine named Hugo, I think he's named after the Unknown-Man. Hugo and his mate, Robby, who's a cyborg, have been the main night-watch. They look after the camp whilst we sleep. There's also Mag, he's the only other Yea'haa'weh over here. The guy who manages us is General Arthur. You remember that big commoner who lived in a massive creamstone mansion in Disra? The massive man who always scared me when he came for the Poyya-Parade during the full-moon due to the massive sword that hung on his belt? That's him. He's actually nice, but he doesn't talk much. At least he hates the Indies as much as we do.
Writing this letter makes me reminisce. You remember when you and Da used to take me, Ossimor and Ahhr out to Thetmis and he would buy us something really nice with whatever Stones he could save? Remember he used to ask us what we wanted and after buying it, he would hide it from us in the woods, so we could find it? Remember what he always used to say??? "You'll earn your gifts when you learn to get them." I think about that now and then. Maybe I will buy something nice for you and the boys for Krissmass, although I'm not a Kristyan. I miss Da.
But Ma, I'm not just writing this letter to talk about old times. I'm writing to warn you. Me and my mates have heard General Arthur and Og Jonathan arguing about something horrible: for centuries there have been creatures hiding in plain sight among us, monsters wearing human skin. Things. But only now are people becoming aware. Only now do they see. No one truly knows where these Things came from. But we do know this; it has something to do with the Old-Moon. Yes. The Old-Moon is returning. Within the next week all of us will have to rush to prevent the catastrophe that will most likely arise from whatever these Things are planning to do. If we don't stop them....I think we could lose Heimland and even the Tagaloa. We need to stop these Things, and I'll need you to gather everything you can and leave our home within this week. Take the boys and all you can carry; food, water, clothes, weapons. Because if something happens, Ma, I want you to be as far away from the carnage as possible. Take a small raft and try to reach the Midlands, I've heard rumors there is life over there. If I can't reach you by 3 days, leave immediately. I've lived a decent life, your life is just beginning.
I love you, Ma. You made my life worth living. Thank you.
Your son,
Yazzi Ali.
6/12/50 AE
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