Book One

Chapter 1
Jesperoh Galladay strode briskly into the library. As he approached the clerk's desk, he reached into one of his numerous pockets and withdrew a small, worn metal token. He handed it to the clerk, and she took it with a look of distaste. "You should get this repaired. Athelston does good work, and it's cheap compared to some of the others." Jesse shrugged nonchalantly. "Maybe sometime."

He resumed his stride, entering the main atrium of the library. Even here it was expansive, roughly five spans wide at its narrowest point. As he neared the gate leading to the Magic section of the library, he saluted to the guards standing on either side. They nodded in acknowledgement and resumed their vigil.

Jesse stepped through the gate and beheld an expanse of bookshelves. There were few books that couldn't be found here; travelers were constantly bringing new ones. Jesse began perusing the closest shelf, not looking for anything in particular.

One title caught his eye. The Ael.

I wonder what that is, he thought. He pulled the book from its shelf and went to retrieve a key for one of the reading alcoves.

Small, round niches lining the inner walls of the library, the alcoves offered a secluded place to sit and read. Jesse found an alcove and unlocked it, then crawled inside. Doffing his cloak, he sat down and began to read.

''The Ael are a venerable society of interplanar warriors and mages. They were formed by the legendary Cerothean knight Urand who, after barely defeating an alien creature threatening the destruction of our world, devised a more organized force dedicated to the defense of all inhabited planes and the species they host.''