"There are many secrets of power contained within the Vhurd-aq, which Bellandor shared with no one, for he lived at a time when treachery and treason ran rife amongst even his own order. But those secrets are revealed to anyone who uses this device, and so it is well that it has come to me.
"As I am the chieftain of the remaining Council, I claim the Vhurd-aq rightfully, and you are my witnesses. In ages past this would be occasion to a great and solemn ceremony, but no matter.
"It is enough that I can now hope to destroy Morlock and avoid Bellandor's fate, for he was betrayed by the King of Astargoth, who along with his minions, became the evil wights who are Morlock's servants. The hand of the enemy has not yet reached among us, for the way east has long been sealed off by Lund, which guards the Valley of Baruk, the sole entrance to the Burning Lands.”
Much of this made little sense to Lily, who knew nothing of the geography or history of the Four Kingdoms, except for the little that Anest had told her about his home to the south in Brand. Her sylph senses were painfully open to the latent power of the Vhurd-aq; although a creature of magic herself, she was daunted by the tremendous and dangerous concentration of power she saw there. Once more she was made aware that she was out of her element, and very much out of her depth. She clung to Anest's arm for support, but he was oblivious to her plight.