“Good… Evil… Why be distracted by such things? They are the creations of men. As are the gods. But perhaps these are a noble fiction. All the blood men spill, for vengeance, for conquest, for power… Amongst the animals there is no need to right such acts. For them, to slay or devour is a part of life. But our nature does not allow us to think this way. For us there must be a reason. And that reason must have a name.”

 

Arvan the Scribe,

king of Sumeria and second Sharíf of the Sovereignty,

at the council of the First Laws

 

Book I of The Writings of Yoaz son of Abiram,

First Scribe of Hanesda, in the twelth year of our king