Oron was troubled. Once again, a strange malaise had gripped his spirit, palling and darkening, causing him to brood and question. Often he walked the palace halls alone, his only companions the sounds of his own echoing footfalls; or he would watch out the windows of tall towers for long times, staring to the north, where stretched his empire.
Following the triumphant victory against Metok, and the pomp and celebration of a new king being wed to the queen of the land, ministers and councilors in Cenre and every other city turned to the task of rebuilding the nation. For Oron, this soon meant endless days in the Hall of Rulers, reviewing law codes and books of royal jurisprudence, audiencing court favorites and troubled persons of the city, and slowly but tirelessly being indoctrinated in
