Brandon Sanderson - Elantris

PROLOGUE

Elantris was beautiful, once. It was called the city of the gods: a place of power, radiance, and magic. Visitors say that the very stones glowed with an inner light, and that the city contained wondrous arcane marvels. At night, Elantris shone like a great silvery fire, visible even from a great distance.

Yet, as magnificent as Elantris was, its inhabitants were more so. Their hair a brilliant white, their skin an almost metallic silver, the Elantrians seemed to shine like the city itself. Legends claim that they were immortal, or at least nearly so. Their bodies healed quickly, and they were blessed with great strength, insight, and speed. They could perform magics with a bare wave of the hand; men visited Elantris from all across Opelon to receive Elantrian healings, food, or wisdom. They were divinities.

And anyone could become one.

The Shaod, it was called. The Transformation. It struck randomlyusually at night, during the mysterious hours when life slowed to rest. The Shaod could take beggar, craftsman, nobleman, or warrior. When it came, the fortunate persons life ended and began anew; he would discard his old, mundane existence, and move to Elantris. Elantris, where he could live in bliss, rule in wisdom, and be worshipped for eternity.

Eternity ended ten years ago.

CHAPTER 1

Prince Raoden of Arelon awoke early that morning, completely unaware that he had been damned for all eternity. Still drowsy, Raoden sat up, blinking in the soft morning light. Just outside his open balcony windows he could see the enormous city of Elantris in the distance, its stark walls casting a deep shadow over the smaller city of Kae, where Raoden lived. Elantriss walls were incredibly high, but Raoden could see the tops of black towers rising behind them, their broken spires a clue to the fallen majesty hidden within.

The abandoned city seemed darker than usual. Raoden stared at it for a moment, then glanced away. The huge Elantrian walls were impossible to ignore, but people of Kae tried very hard to do just that. It was painful to remember the citys beauty, to wonder how ten years ago the blessing of the Shaod had become a curse instead.

Raoden shook his head, climbing out of bed. It was unusually warm for such an early hour; he didnt feel even a bit chilly as he threw on his robe, then pulled the servants cord beside his bed, indicating that he wanted breakfast.

That was another odd thing. He was hungryvery hungry. Almost ravenous. He had never liked large breakfasts, but this morning he found himself waiting impatiently for his meal to arrive. Finally, he decided to send someone to see what was taking so long.

Ien? he called in the unlit chambers.

There was no response. Raoden frowned slightly at the Seons absence. Where could Ien be?

Raoden stood, and as he did, his eyes fell on Elantris again. Resting in the great citys shadow, Kae seemed like an insignificant village by comparison. Elantris. An enormous, ebony blocknot really a city anymore, just the corpse of one. Raoden shivered slightly.

A knock came at his door.

Finally, Raoden said, walking over to pull open the door. Old Elao stood outside with a tray of fruit and warm bread.

The tray dropped to the ground with a crash, slipping from the stunned maids fingers even as Raoden reached out to accept it. Raoden froze, the trays metallic ring echoing through the silent morning hallway.

Merciful Domi! Elao whispered, her eyes horrified and her hand trembling as she reached up to grab the Korathi pendant at her neck.

Raoden reached out, but the maid took a quivering step away, stumbling on a small melon in her haste to escape.

What? Raoden asked. Then he saw his hand. What had been hidden in the shadows of his darkened room was now illuminated by the hallways flickering lantern.