And that wraps up the first book of Abdul Sahshir's story. This installment was something of an accident. I was trying to write something new and decided to set it within the land of Calisha in the far east. Tuor was envisioned then as the first character to appear, and later Sahshir.

Sahshir becomes the antithesis of the traditional hero in many ways. He tends towards violence, causes problems for him, and a vengeful streak. He is, by nature, a protagonist on borrowed time. The disease that is slowly killing him drives him to excel. It leads him to undertake quests for reckless glory.

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Yet there are hints that Sahshir is more measured than he first appears.

Consequently, Sahshir is far more efficient with his time than Relma or William. Neither has come anywhere near his feats in this first book.

However, we will be getting back to William in the next story. We'll pick up on how he and Kiyora have been doing and what became of the demoness Arraxia. And we may, at last, meet Vanion Gabriel.