‘Yet at one time, our presence was not needed to keep the Evil in the world at bay. Nature, the Earth Mother Herself, if you will, imposed Her Balance; there was an equilibrium between Good and Evil.
‘Yet I must tell you, now, of a fear I have, concerning these matters.
‘I have heard, from those who have dealings with Faeriekind, and from certain Loremasters who keep me informed of the activities of their Order, that something unspeakable has been done to the Earth Mother Herself. She is lost to those of Faeriekind-’
‘I know something of this,’ Pran said, and told him of his experiences with Iniiq and her people.
Looking suddenly older, tired and grey, the Thane said, ‘There is more. Do you have any idea of the implications of the Earth Mother’s being cut off from Her Creation?’
Pran thought for a moment, but nothing beyond what he’d already heard came to mind.
‘Bethink you,’ the Thane told him. ‘Without Her, all of Faeriekind is doomed to extinction.’
‘I realise that,’ Pran answered.
‘Think further,’ the Thane said. ‘Of that which is not affected by her absence.’
‘I’m not sure I understand you,’ Pran said. ‘Mankind will continue, of course, as will all creatures of a nature unrelated to the world of Magic.’