Гімн
Part One
Thefireflickersintheovenandblueshadowsdanceuponthewalls,andthereisnosoundofmentodisturbus.
Wehavestolenmanuscripts.Thisisagreatoffense.Manuscriptsareprecious,forourbrothersintheHomeoftheClerksspendoneyeartocopyonesinglescriptintheirclearhandwriting.ManuscriptsarerareandtheyarekeptintheHomeoftheScholars.Sowesitundertheearthandwereadthestolenscripts.Twoyearshavepassedsincewefoundthisplace.AndinthesetwoyearswehavelearnedmorethanwehadlearnedinthetenyearsoftheHomeoftheStudents.
Wehavelearnedthingswhicharenotinthescripts.WehavesolvedsecretsofwhichtheScholarshavenoknowledge.Wehavecometoseehowgreatistheunexplored,andmanylifetimeswillnotbringustotheendofourquest.Butwewishnoendtoourquest.Wewishnothing,savetobealoneandtolearn,andtofeelasifwitheachdayoursightweregrowingsharperthanthehawk’sandclearerthanrockcrystal.
Strangearethewaysofevil.Wearefalseinthefacesofourbrothers.WearedefyingthewillofourCouncils.Wealone,ofthethousandswhowalkthisearth,wealoneinthishouraredoingaworkwhichhasnopurposesavethatwewishtodoit.Theevilofourcrimeisnotforthehumanmindtoprobe.Thenatureofourpunishment,ifitbediscovered,isnotforthehumanhearttoponder.Never,notinthememoryoftheAncientOnes’Ancients,neverhavemendonethatwhichwearedoing.
Andyetthereisnoshameinusandnoregret.Wesaytoourselvesthatweareawretchandatraitor
