Prologue
               The Dark Lord Saga
                 by Rick Federle
                         
     
          A solitary figure sat in a room alone, the only thing visible in
     the faint lighting was the chair and its occupant.  The figure was in
     a dark robe and the hood was drawn up over its head.  A single
     candle burned on a table next to the chair, hiding the face of the
     occupant from the casual observer.  If one stared into the shadows
     hard enough, one could see what might be some sort of shelving
     along the walls, but one could not be certain, as if the figure in the
     chair somehow blocked the light.
          The dark robed and hooded figure sitting in the chair
     examined the crystal that rested in its hand, letting it twinkle in the
     faint light as it turned it back and forth.  Back and forth the crystal
     went, its twinkle a sharp contrast from the near blackness of the
     rest of the room.
          A sphere of black energy materialized a foot or so in front
     of the head of the examiner and it raised its hooded head to look at
     the energy sphere.  "The Warrior of Light has come."  A voice
     echoed off the walls.
          The hooded head dipped once in acknowledgment.  "Then it
     is time, master."
          "Yes."  The same voice said.  "And now the Dark Lord
     must rise up and destroy him."
          The hand holding the crystal closed over it and with a
     squeeze, crushed it into dust.  The grip loosened slightly and the
     powder glittered as it streamed between the figure's fingers.  There
     was the faint gleaming of eyes as the figure turned slightly in the
     chair.  "Come to me my shadows."  The figure commanded and the
     energy sphere pulsed once in approval.  "Our time is at hand."