Lightkeeper Press 11/11/25 Lightkeeper Press 11/11/25

EXCERPT FROM THE CHRONICLES OF TRYTERRA: Founder’s Day

“You know, it’s interesting”, a raspy voice observed from somewhere beyond his clenched eyelids. “…if you really think about it.”

Mygel felt warm fingertips that smelled of old, acrid tobacco smoke press into his eyelids, forcing them open. He couldn’t quite focus his sight on the dark-skinned man that stared down at him. The man’s face was hidden by the shadow of a deep purple hood and wreathed by a salt and pepper beard and dreadlocks.

“’Two paths diverged in the wood…’”, he said smugly, as if sharing some private joke with himself. “Two paths”, he continued, “running side by side, but both headed to this very spot.”

His head lifted almost imperceptibly, and though his eyes were hidden, Mygel sensed them flit back and forth, taking in every detail of the scene before the last of day’s light died out. “Every one of your associates who took the right path…”, he added, pointing, “…died horribly. Quickly…but horribly nonetheless.”

“But the ones like you? The ones who took the left path?”, the hooded man said, rising like a specter draped in a purple duster. “Most of them would have probably lived…had we made the effort to check on them.”

He tilted his head, silently staring at Mygel for a moment.

“…So, it IS interesting, don’t you think?”, the man continued. “You, here, alive. All because your horse broke left instead of right.”

He slowly crouched, face hovering above Mygel’s, and said “your next words may change that…”