The Wretch of the Steppe

An Excerpt from the Nicilian Legend of the Wretch

And the Wretch clawed forth, spewing his shadow upon the lands. And all whom his stench and chill reached perished from the dread of it, or else were struck dumb forevermore. And the warriors of all the lands were cut down, their very souls fleeing their bodies for the shelter of death. And the Khan saw all these things, and took up his bow, and prepared his arrows. And he mounted his horse, and rode forth to meet the Wretch as honourable men do.
And the Khan came upon the Wretch, feasting where the trees die and the land fails, and he spake its doom. And the Wretch at once fled before the Khan, and the Khan loosed his arrows after it. And the Wretch flew toward the Old City, his speed too great for the Khan's arrows. And where each arrow struck the dirt, a mountain rose, as in the days of the First Men. And invoking the fleet wings of Rudrel, and calling upon the True One, the Khan did send his latter arrow, and it did pierce the head of the Wretch.
Thus did the Khan deliver the peoples of East, and South, and West. Thus was Enor's second wood parted from the Steppe. Thus did the Khan achieve his first feat.