Return of the Dragon (The Dragon's Champion Book 6) by Sam Ferguson Page A

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are continents. There are many of those, each subdivided into kingdoms,
countries, and wastelands.”
    The globe grew to enormous proportions, capable of
showing massive armies and other groups of peoples and creatures across the
surface.
    “There are so many,” Aparen said.
    Njar nodded. “This is just a representation, mind you,”
he said. “I haven’t the space or time to show you all of the creatures upon the
face of Terramyr, but hopefully this will give you incentive to seek balance.”
Njar held up his hand and the globe spun over until a large continent faced
them. Nearly the whole of it was covered with a dense fog, and encircled by
steep, jagged mountains that rose out of the seas.
    “What is that large area?” Aparen asked.
    “It is Terra’s Navel. It is a lost continent that is
hidden to the rest of the world. A dense fog surrounds it, and borders of
impassable mountains seal it away from explorers. Its area is so vast that
there are actually seas and continents within its covered borders.”
    “Where is it?”
    Njar smiled. “That is the secret,” he said. “For
within Terra’s Navel lies the life force of Terramyr. From that, the source of
all life springs throughout the world. That is why it is hidden. When the Old
Gods formed the world, they created a bond between Terramyr and Hammenfein, the
underworld or Hell if you prefer. When that bond was formed, Terramyr protected
itself by creating Terra’s Navel and hiding the sacred source of life.”
    Njar motioned with his fingers and the glob spun to
show a continent off in the east.
    “Do you see the large island to the northwest of the
continent?”
    Aparen nodded. “I do.”
    “That is Icadion’s Footstool. It is thus named because
the rainbow bridge that connects Terramyr to Volganor, the heaven city, used to
rest there.”
    “Before the Old Gods abandoned the world,” Aparen said
with a nod. “I have heard of it.”
    Njar offered a half smile and then pointed to the
continent before them. “Starting from the west and going eastward, we see a
large kingdom built upon a lush plateau that is raised above the rest of the
continent. This is where the first human civilization was established after the
Old Gods created the continent. Going east across the lower plains, the forest
and a large lake, which could pass for a sea, and then over the first range of
mountains and over the large canyon that nearly severs the continent in twain,
we come to Tanglewood Forest.” Each place on the continent glowed slightly as
it was named, helping Aparen trace his way across the
continent as Njar spoke. Tanglewood Forest now glowed brightly with a golden
hue. “This is the first home of the elves. All elvish peoples come from here,
though they have spread over the globe just as far as the humans have.
    “Now, moving on we pass over the Nahktun Mountains and
pass into a wasteland that is shrouded in darkness every hour of every day. The
creatures and abominations that live here would give an army of wizards more
trouble than they are worth. Luckily, they are unable to sustain themselves in
sunlight, and thus cannot spread over into neighboring lands lest the sun would
burn them like chaff in an oven.”
    “What kinds of creatures?” Aparen asked.
    Njar turned a fierce eye to him. “Creatures
that shall not be named within my home.” Njar then turned back to the
globe. “Deep within this land lies Gaia’s Tear.”
    “The volcano that connects Terramyr to Hammenfein,”
Aparen said.
    Njar smiled pleasantly. “So, you are more than a
sword-wielding brute after all.”
    Aparen sniggered. “And it is this connection that
caused Terramyr to create the Natural Races.”
    Njar shook his head. “No,” he said. “Many
people think that is correct, but that is an oversimplification. When
Gaia’s Tear was created, the world formed Terra’s Navel, to protect all life.
However, it was not until the War of the Gods that Terramyr realized the danger
it