Prologue and Dreams Summary

The black unicorn emerges from the forest and stands at the edge of the stream. All of the other animals gather around to stare at the rare sight. There is mention that the black unicorn cannot be killed, yet its life can still be taken away.

Ben Holidays announces at breakfast that he had a dream the previous night about the Old World. Ben says it was about his old law partner, Miles Bennett. Miles was frantically busy and kept calling out for Ben. Ben tried to respond but Miles couldn't hear Ben. Then there was a distortion and Ben woke up. Ben says that there was something very real about the dream—some impending disaster—that he just cannot put his finger on.

Abernathy, the scribe, talks to Ben and suggests that Ben's premonition is compelling...