The Temple of the Sacre was like no other place in Terra. Built on the sacred isle, at the center of an artificial lake dug by the dwarves three centuries earlier, it rose like a fortress of light. Its white marble walls shone in the sun, engraved with ancient runes pulsing with a golden glow. Twelve doors opened onto the temple, each leading to a magic teleportation circle.

Representatives of the fourteen guilds had converged upon the temple. The king's call had been clear: to choose the Eight Sacred Warriors for the quest to free Rastacan.

Herald, Guardian of the Guilds, stood at the center — an immense man, black beard braided with golden threads, armor bearing the symbols of the fourteen guilds. He never smiled.

— Be seated, Herald ordered in a voice that rolled like thunder.

Artiss of the Winged Ones, Aldunberg the Swift, Balrog the Bloodthirsty — leader of the Black Power, a cold smile that never reached his red eyes. One seat remained empty. That of the Red Force.

— Layseriuss will not come. The Red Force refuses to take part.

Heriulf the Wise asked the question everyone was avoiding: why free Rastacan now? Herald took a long breath.

— The king is dying. He has only a few moons left. Before he goes, he wants to know if his son can be saved. If the curse can be broken.

Balrog burst into icy laughter.

— Pathetic sentimentality. Shabakan himself chose Rastacan's body as his vessel. To free him is to unleash the Accursed Serpent upon Terra.

Elyndra rose.

— Then we will kill him. But we will not let the Black Power decide the fate of Terra.

Herald struck the table with his fist. The runes blazed. The nominations began. Kael, hippogriff knight. Thordrim, elementalist. Morvena, legendary corsair. Silas, observer. Elyndra, runic sorceress. Aelith, amazon archer. Grundar, blacksmith of Nerecleiss. And finally, Balrog named Draven the Necromancer.

— Draven shall be one of the Eight. But if he betrays, he will be executed on the spot.

The council parted at dusk. The Eight Sacred Warriors had been chosen. Tomorrow, they would swear their oath before the dying king. And the day after, they would set out into the darkness.