An excerpt from “Forsaken,” a Magic: the Gathering novel
Ajani Goldmane pauses, a rare case of the proud leonin warrior’s hesitation. His deep voice is a growl, signifying the importance of his next words. “Liliana Vess is going to be a problem. She has abandoned the Watch.”
The youngest Planeswalker, a young man by the name of Teyo, cautioned a question in a room already filled with worried brows and tensed muscles. “Who is Liliana Vess?”
Ajani of the Plains sought the source of the query. Ah... the young combatant that would put up tremendous walls of force, keeping the nightmarish Dreadhorde at bay as best he could. But wouldn’t a soldier in the War of the Spark know at least something of Liliana’s role in it?
With grace, the tribe leader answered his charge. “Vess, at one time, was the most dangerous woman across the planes. What troubles me most about her is that she can be a powerful ally, and has acted heroically as recently as this terrible war she helped begin. I fear, though, that she plans to fill the void left by the supposed God-Pharoah Nicol Bolas.”
Teyo looked concerned. “What... is a woman?”
Ajani, wise as he is fierce, continued to answer. “Now that she has destroyed her demons, Lil...” The proud lion stopped mid-pace. The earth-trembling lowness of his voice raised octaves, bringing an unheard playfulness to his next words. “Wait. Did you just ask what a woman was?”
“Yes,” Teyo, Mage of the Walls, confirmed. “What is one? Is it that blue-haired fellow?”
“Blue-haired fellow?” the Adversary of Tyrants responded. “What blue-haired fellow?!?” The Unyielding looked about the room to the faces of his Gatewatch allies. They looked just as puzzled. Even the stoic Teferi offered a shrug.
Teyo smiled wryly as if he had a secret. And he did, for he had a cookie in his pocket. A forsaken cookie.
