The First Twins: Malec and Anduil
And how they came to evil
The following passage was found in a cave less than twenty miles from where the original writings of the Master’s Book were found. The many inconsistencies in this account regarding the Master’s actions versus what is described in the rest of the Master’s Book as well as this being the only example of the Liar directly interfering with human affairs have resulted in much academic debate over the centuries. A consensus between religious scholars and Mereologists has never been reached as to the authenticity of the account, and as such it is not included in the official, sanctioned version of the Master’s Book.
The poor light it casts upon twins and mages in general has never been officially listed as a point of contention, but there are few who doubt the role it plays in the controversy.
Many older copies of the Master’s Book include the passage as chapter 21 of the book of Hamaluk, following the account of Lamech tricking Mariah’s father into letting him marry her, despite his being an outsider and a follower of a foreign god.
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And it came to pass that Lamech knew Mariah, and she became pregnant and brought forth unto him twins, a son and a daughter, the boy being firstborn. Lamech praised the Master, saying, “Surely I have been blessed beyond measure, and my house shall continue into the ages.” He named his son Malec, the Father of Nations, and the girl Anduil, Mother of the Sun.
And Malec grew strong and led their people; for his father, Lamech, was much advanced in age and blind. Lamech was a righteous man and loved the Master and all his ways. But Malec did evil in the sight of the Master, for he loved the ways of war and coveted his neighbor’s lands, forgetting that they were refugees and strangers in that country. Lamech grieved for his son and cried to the Master to have mercy on him, but the Master did not hear him, for He had already decided that Malec should be punished for his evil ways.
And it came to pass that the king of Posh, to the east, treated with the kings of Elon and Sedai and said to them, “See, this son of Lamech, who has ever been our friend and a guest in our lands, brings war upon us. Let us join together and fight, lest we be swallowed up by him and his god.” So they joined together and brought their armies against Malec and he was beset all around.
One day a traveler came to Malec’s tent as he rested in the shade to escape the heat of the day. “Come, friend,” said Malec. “Join me, for the day is hot. My sister shall bring us meat and drink, and we shall be refreshed together.” So the traveler joined Malec, and Anduil prepared a young calf and brought out wine for them, and they ate and were refreshed. As they relaxed in the cool of the shade the traveler said, “I see the kings of Posh, and of Elon, and of Sedai have raised their armies against you.”
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“They have,” said Malec, who was full of wine and boastful. “But we are blessed by the Master, and they shall not prevail against us.” The traveler replied, saying: “The Master loves not war nor those who bring it. But I know one who does and with his help, all nations shall tremble beneath you.” And the traveler stood and threw back his cloak and Malec beheld the Liar, who was called Ran in those days. And Malec fell on his face, trembling for he was much afraid. And Anduil, who had been listening inside the tent, came out and said: “Oh Ran, who all know to be faithless and a liar, if you can but save us from our enemies we shall forever be your servants.” (She said this because they were beset on all sides by their enemies and had suffered many losses.)
Ran was impressed with Anduil’s courage, for she was not afraid of him as her brother was, and agreed to help the twins. “You shall only have my help if you work together,” he said. “For together you were knit in your mother’s womb, and together you shall rule the nations as one.” And he bestowed upon them great power, which they brought to bear on their foes. To Malec he gave the power to bring the wrath of the heavens down on their enemies, and unto Anduil he gave the power of the earth, which she rent beneath their enemy’s feet and they were swallowed up. Thus the battle was won. But Malec was greedy, and not content to share with Anduil, for in his mind it was not right for a woman to rule. He entered her tent as she slept and killed her, taking her power for his own.
The next morning as Malec supped, the herald Hamaluk arrived and hailed him. “Your foes are destroyed, Malec,” he said. “Indeed, blessed herald,” replied Malec. He was afraid, for in his heart he knew he had done great evil. “The Master smiles upon us this day.” “The Master never smiles while his children suffer,” said Hamaluk. “And your father weeps with sorrow, for the kings you threw down had been his friends once. Tell me, where is your sister? I much desire to see her as well.”
“My sister sleeps,” said Malec. “The battle has wearied her” “Liar!” cried Hamaluk. “Even now your sister’s blood cries out to me from the ground where it was spilled, and her spirit moans because of the evil you two have wrought. For your deeds the Master has taken your birthright from you and the house of Lamech shall be given to another, for though your father loves the Master, you have loved naught but death and lies. Even now new enemies rise up against you and shall pursue you to the ends of the earth, hounding your every step like dogs chasing a fox, and even the new power you have gained will not avail you. The Liar has no power over the Master, and he shall teach your enemies to guard against his ways. Neither you nor your sister shall know peace or sleep, for the Master has not forgotten where Anduil placed her faith. Her spirit will follow you all your days, accusing you and bringing your deeds to light wherever you go.”
And the Master placed upon Malec a mark, so that all who saw him should know his name and what he had done.
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The curse at the end of this passage is the subject of the most debate. It is unlike any other punishment bestowed by the Master in the rest of the Master’s Book and is particularly harsh. It neatly lines up with the nature of shades as we know them today, but, as this is the most direct reference to shades in the Master’s Book - all others being either vague or deliberately poetic in nature - its reliability is suspect at best.
Many who speak out against mages claim that the twin lines symbolizing the Bond are the same mark the Master placed on Malec and that the symbol itself is heretical.
It is my personal opinion that this passage was a fabrication, designed to reinforce the belief that twins and shades are to be feared; however, there is little evidence to collaborate this opinion. There is an equal absence of evidence to refute it as well, and as such, I believe this will be one debate that is never resolved.
Kelso D’atavio