Well, then, Gentle Readers, let us get back to more conventional story telling and things more to your liking (one hopes).

Leaving aside the previous diversion of late-breaking message leaks, it is, as you know, the usual think for stories to begin somewhere near the beginning, though often tricky story-tellers will first drop the reader into something exciting to whet the appetite and then drag the reader back to the real beginning in Chapter Two, to explain just how the heck things got into such a state of excitement in the first place.

I will not try to be so tricksy. What follows is the earliest available information I’ve yet been able to gather on Ember plus humanity. – The Scrivener.

THE VISION OF JEN THE ENCHANTER

In her Crystal, at first there was just darkness and the soft sound of wind. With a touch of her Will, Jen the Enchanter moved the vision forward in space. Shadowy rocks and banked snow became visible as the view moved along the mountainside and snow began to fall. Vague sounds rose briefly above the sighing wind.

She shifted the image again in space, toward the sounds. Soon, blurry yellow light appeared distantly through the thickening snowfall. She pressed the vision forward slowly until at last the little vision inside the Crystal revealed two figures sitting across from a fire.

On one side of the small fire sat a knight, with bound-up wounds, his armor and weapons laid aside. The other figure was a strange woman with an exotic visage, but not a true woman. Unnaturally tall she was and white, curled horns sprouted from among the long black hair of her head. A magical creature. She also has red-stained bandages, one large one hinting at a deep wound.

A slow movement closer through space, and words became louder, more distinct...

The woman-thing said, "My true name humans cannot say. It's meaning would be that of a small burning descended from great flames."

"Hmmm… We'd call that an 'ember' ", he said. He demonstrated with a glowing bit from the fire before him.

"I see. Very well, then, I am Ember to you. It will suffice."

"I am called..."

"Hold! Do not speak your true name. I would not know it lest some day it slip from me and my kin seek your death for the impudence to speak to me as an equal. None of your kind has ever before sat in conference with my kind. You are brave to sit so near with your weapons so far from hand. In older days when many of our kinds fought, before hate took root so deep, to face bravely a stronger opponent without weapon in hand was a true measure of courage. In those times, even dragons respected such men. I could simply call you My Knight."

"I like that well, Ember."

For minutes, there was nothing more than sounds of wind and of the fire snapping.

"It is bitter cold upon the mountain tonight, Ember."

"I perceived you would not have survived until now had I not made this fire."

"We spared each other once today, Ember, and tonight you spare me from a death yet again."

"It is so. There is a bond and a debt now between us."

"Your wound will need further treatment, come morning when the light is good. So long as you are in a human form, the medicines I have been taught should work to clean the wound. Then nature can heal you."

"Let it be so, then, and the debt be canceled, though we be then twice-bonded. But beware, human, this form I have taken was often used by my kind to lure men to their doom. It has power to ensnare whoever beholds us. The longer I keep this form, the greater will be its effect upon you."

"Of a truth, that is knowledge dragons would not have fall into the hands of men. Why then do you tell me this?"

"If you are aware, perhaps you will not be drawn into its web."

Another long pause but Jen the Enchanter resisted the impulse to move the vision forward in time. Spatial movement was far more stable, and less risk of breaking the contact. And she had worked so long to reach into this time and space.

"Ember... is it possible the power works upon you as well? Is that why you share this secret? Why it matters to you that I be not deceived?"

The creature sighed deeply. The sound hinted at more than mere breath. "What I have done is beyond the lure. So that I might understand you, and you understand me, I have made other… changes. Not just shape but some of mind as well. I have not the wisdom to foresee all that may befall from it."

"Ember... I confess I already I feel myself regarding your strangeness as beauty. Even your name is pleasant to speak. Is that the power working in me?"

"Without a doubt, and I am sorry I could not ward you from it. It is too late, now. You may as well draw very near. You cannot now fear me. I shall revert to my true form and take you under my wing. Sleep beside me tonight. You will be safe and warm."

"Aye, I will do that with thanks. I am so weary and I fear falling asleep. Death comes soft and quiet in such cold. It is good, then, that you change back lest by staying long in human form you are also enchanted by your power."

The crystal’s image blurred and there were crackling noises. Interference, thought Jen. Then it cleared and a large dragon form lay alongside the little fire. The knight crawled to the beast and leaned against the scaly side. A great wing folded over him there.

Long minutes passed and again Jen the Enchanter had to resist the urge to push the vision through time. Finally, something was whispered in dragon-tongue that Jen strained to hear.

"Alas, for me it is too late as well, my Knight. Your strangeness has become pleasing to my eyes. Your flesh smells sweet. Your weakness softens my hearts as though you were a youngling of my own kind. Thrice-bound are we now; by a truce, by compassion and by the accursed power. Sleep well, little one."

As the dragon’s eyes closed to sleep, Jen allowed the Crystal Sight to recede. For a moment, it revealed again only rock, snow and the sounds of wind blowing cold among the stones. Then the Crystal was dark and silent.