- The First Settlement in Threll

'My purpose?' Marcus thought. 'Who speaks like that?'

"Rovinian," the soldier said. "State. Your. Purpose."

"You mean why I'm here? I was asked to come here."

"Asked? By who?"

"Commander Vayne of Rovinia," Marcus said. "I don't know why, but I was asked here."

"You're the specialist she mentioned?" the soldier asked with a hint of incredulity.

"I… I guess," Marcus answered in a confused tone. "Specialist of what?"

"Of the things that are attacking us. Of the things that laid waste to Merthin, and now threaten to do the same to us."

'How could she know? Garnell, perhaps?' Marcus thought.

"There was this person with her, some kid around your age, maybe," the soldier continued. "I'm not too sure. I'm only going off of what a messenger has told us. Does that at least make sense to you?"

"Yeah, yeah it does," Marcus said, nodding his head.