Prologue
The desert was dry and barren. A cool wind constantly played, throwing sand everywhere. Nothing was visible for miles amidst this blur.
A lovely woman sat upon the sand. She seemed quite unaffected by the desert wind and the sand being tossed in her face. She also appeared to be waiting for someone.
A small balding man strolled toward the woman, quite gracefully for someone his age, his footprints getting erased instantly.
"Ah, you have come," said the woman.
"How could I not?" asked the man, trying to sound careless. "Life is rather boring in the Void."
"Something is stirring up, Yrael," stated the woman seriously. "I'm worried about Lirael. She has to deal with being Queen, Abhorsen, Remembrancer, and above all: Mother."
"I'm worried too, Kibeth," admitted Yrael. "I'm going back to see what's wrong."
"I'm going back too," said Kibeth. She looked critically at Yrael, her head tilted. She began to draw symbols in the air.
"What are you doing?" questioned Yrael.
"You must be bound before returning."
Yrael shook his head. "I need to be bound no longer. I shall serve the Abhorsen faithfully."
Kibeth shook her head as well. "No. Thought s and feelings are different in the Void and in the Old Kingdom. You must be bound."
Yrael bowed his head, accepting the consequences of the choices he had made over the years.
"So be it," he said, sighing slightly.
Kibeth let out a melodic note that sounded almost like a bark. A collar fastened itself around Yrael's neck. A miniature bell tinkled from the front of the collar.
"I shall see you later, I expect," said Kibeth. Yrael nodded. Quickly and briefly, they shook hands. The two of them walked off in opposite directions, becoming engulfed by the grit in the air.
The desert was dry and barren. A cool wind constantly played, throwing sand everywhere. Nothing was visible for miles amidst this blur.
A lovely woman sat upon the sand. She seemed quite unaffected by the desert wind and the sand being tossed in her face. She also appeared to be waiting for someone.
A small balding man strolled toward the woman, quite gracefully for someone his age, his footprints getting erased instantly.
"Ah, you have come," said the woman.
"How could I not?" asked the man, trying to sound careless. "Life is rather boring in the Void."
"Something is stirring up, Yrael," stated the woman seriously. "I'm worried about Lirael. She has to deal with being Queen, Abhorsen, Remembrancer, and above all: Mother."
"I'm worried too, Kibeth," admitted Yrael. "I'm going back to see what's wrong."
"I'm going back too," said Kibeth. She looked critically at Yrael, her head tilted. She began to draw symbols in the air.
"What are you doing?" questioned Yrael.
"You must be bound before returning."
Yrael shook his head. "I need to be bound no longer. I shall serve the Abhorsen faithfully."
Kibeth shook her head as well. "No. Thought s and feelings are different in the Void and in the Old Kingdom. You must be bound."
Yrael bowed his head, accepting the consequences of the choices he had made over the years.
"So be it," he said, sighing slightly.
Kibeth let out a melodic note that sounded almost like a bark. A collar fastened itself around Yrael's neck. A miniature bell tinkled from the front of the collar.
"I shall see you later, I expect," said Kibeth. Yrael nodded. Quickly and briefly, they shook hands. The two of them walked off in opposite directions, becoming engulfed by the grit in the air.