In a verdant valley lived a large herd of sheep. These sheep who called
themselves The People were fat, lazy and content. They were guarded by
large number of dogs, but despite the ardent efforts of these dogs,
wolves would regularly come down from the mountains of Mhaldor to prey
upon the sheep. At times the dogs would drive off the wolves but often
the wolves would take a fat succulent sheep and drag its bloodied
carcass back to their mountain lair. Sometimes the wolves would slay
some of the dogs who tried vainly to stop them and sometimes the dogs
would manage to slay one of the wolves. So life continued in the valley
for some years.

One day a dark and foreboding cloud rolled down from the Mhaldorian
mountains. The cloud choked off the light to the valley, it made the
lambs and the elder sheep bleat in fear and the dogs whimpered and
whined in anticipation of the coming fury of the storm. For many hours
however there came not a crack of thunder nor flash of lightning and the
dwellers of the valley drew closer together wondering what these strange
doings might auger.

In the darkness, only one heart did stand alone, the king of the sheep.
Although old and starting to weaken he walked slowly away from the herd
and the dogs and ascended the hills surrounding the valley. He walked
slowly until, separated from the herd by many leagues he saw a gray
shadow slyly descending from the mountains of Mhaldor. He stopped and
waited as the figure came closer. It resolved itself in the shape of an
old grey wolf, long of tooth and lean of body. The old sheeps heart did
know fear as he saw the glimmer of sharp tooth and gaunt flank come
closer, but he did steel himself for the confrontation and pawed at the
earth to show his vigour.

The old wolf did come closer and lowered his head. The king of the sheep
was unsettled and looked around fearful of an ambush. Be at ease my old
friend, my old adversary said the wolf, I mean you no harm, heh at least
not on this day. I have come to parlay

Parlay? retorted the king of the sheep, what need do I have to parlay
with the likes of you, who slay my people and fight with our protectors?

Protectors? Hah! retorted the wolf, look more closely old sheep, I know
you and you know me. Many times have we fought, many times we have
clashed. This scar on my chest you did give me with your mighty horns
and the missing eye in that addled head of yours was taken by my strong
claws. You have grown old and foolish, use that one good eye of yours,
you know me. Once I knew you, as a strong and capable adversary who had
no need of protectors, now I see a weak and foolish old ram who I could
slay in an instant.

The king of the sheep was taken aback and did look more closely at the
old wolf before him. He searched his old memories and at last he
recognized the Lord of the Wolves. Old but still powerful, compared to
his own fat and decrepit body. What do you want then Lord of the Wolves?
sneered the old ram, if not to feed on my old tough carcass? But be
sure, my meat is tough enough to choke you.

The wolfs sharp teeth did glimmer in the darkness as he said, Yes, that
is the foe I remember, if I close my eyes I do recognize him, but this
weakened frame I see before me is no adversary who I would find honor in
defeating. As I said I come to parlay. I come to offer you words of
wisdom, of advice. I come to talk of those dogs that you think protect
your people. I come to tell you to send them away.

Hah, replied the sheep, old I might be but you are clearly senile. Send
away our friends the dogs? You are a fool, I shall not do this.

Hear me now Said the wolf, my words were given to me by one who is
mightier than you or I or those dogs you call your friends. These words
did come in my sleep as a dream but I knew them to be more than a dream,
rather a revelation from the true Lords of Strength and Evil. I have
come to share these words with you as a favor to an old and capable
enemy. Send away those dogs, they are not your friends they seek to
enslave you.

In days past, my wolves and your people did fight and sometimes you
would drive us off and sometimes we would take one of your people, often
the young or the old or the weak. Now the dogs do protect you and you
have all become fat, lazy and weak. Often we defeat your friends the
dogs and we take which ever of your people we wish, not the weak, but
those that are in the prime of their life and their flesh does feel good
in our bellies. Once long ago, your people did fight us and they were
capable and noble adversaries, now they are but meat to us.

So I should send away the dogs so your pack may hunt us again at will,
just so you might think us noble? sneered the old ram.

Fool of a ram roared the Lord of the Wolves, I should slaughter you now
and feast on your flesh for your insolence. I give you wisdom and you
repay me with sarcasm. The king of the sheep trembled and waited for the
fatal blow. But no, I will do THEIR bidding and make you see the truth.
Do these dogs protect you purely out of the goodness of their heart? or
do they ask for sacrifice. Do they not ask that you turn away from your
own beliefs and gods and instead worship at their altars? Those that do
not worship at their altars, do they not take them and offer them up to
their gods? These are not friends.

The old king did consider the wolfs words and saw the truth in them. But
it is a small price to pay for safety

Is it? queried the Lord of the Wolves, I not only remember the ram you
once were, I also remember the valley you once lived in. Once the grass
was long and green. The shoots that came up were plentiful and sweet. I
look around now and see many a green blade of grass but this valley is
dying. The signs are subtle, but as THEY are my masters I swear that
this valley is dying. There are too many of you, the dogs let you breed
to great numbers of weaklings and you eat yourselves out of your home.
Soon the valley will die and your people will not have the courage or
strength to find a new home and then the dogs will leave you to find a
new flock.

Know then that we are your friends said the wolf, We did keep you
numbers in check so you did not damage the valley and we did weed out
the weak so your people might grow strong. Know that you were once our
friends for by growing stronger you did make my people work harder and
by this labor we did grow stronger and so we came closer to THEM.

So at last I give you a choice concluded the Lord of the Wolves Accept
adversity, send away your dogs, once again become strong and noble, walk
forward with us to a future of strength. Refuse and this great cloud of
The Lords will stay over your valley and will choke off the light. The
grass will wilt and die as it will eventually do under the pressure of
your own hungry mouths. I will bring down my ravenous pack and we will
slaughter the dogs, we shall bathe in their blood and your people we
will also slaughter, one by one the young before the eyes of the old
until you alone stand and you will gladly offer me your throat so I
might end your pitiful suffering.

The old wolf then did turn and started to walk back up to the mountains.
Only once he stopped and turned his head, Choose old king and also know
that if you choose to send away the dogs, you will surely die, but your
children will sing of your courage as you met your fate on the field of
combat, defending your own people, rather than hiding behind a pack of
dogs.


Penned by my hand on the 1st of Phaestian, in the year 424 AF.