Summary

The Prologue opens in the past, soon after Cardan was born. Baphen, the Royal Astrologer, told High King Eldred what the stars revealed about the infant prince. Cardan was to be Eldred's final child and “the destruction of the crown and the ruination of the throne” (1). Eldred asked if anything could change the course of events. Baphen responded that “Only out of his spilled blood can a great ruler arise” (2). He went on to say that the other actions would come first. Eldred reacted by saying that Lady Asha, Cardan's mother, should take him away and raise him however she wanted. She insisted that he would be raised as the son of the High King of Elfhame. Eldred was not interested in spending time with either Lady Asha or Cardan. Lady Asha was more interested in her social life, and she “found...