CHAPTER 1 The fires must be lit. The thought spun around in Rolmar’s mind for a few moments as he sat meditating in his cavernous domicile. The discalced demon—garbed in heavy, white robes—knew that as one of the three overlords of Pentar it was incumbent upon him to light the fires. The ceremonial meeting would take place in a few days. The task of lighting the fire pits in the seven colonies of Pentar under his dominion would have to be completed before that time. Rolmar had a vested interest in the ritual; if the task was not finished by the appointed time, he would be forbidden from taking part in any future rituals. The demon’s thoughts were percolating. It’s time already. Another thousand years have gone by. The Breeksa will be here in a few days, and subsequently, three worlds will meet their end. Every thousand years, the three overlords of Pentar would hold a conclave in the Great Hall of Bremsa—a Breeksa in demonic speech— to discuss planetary “cleansing.” During the meeting, three planets would be selected for extermination, and one would be assigned to each of the demons.
