Once upon a time there was a king with two sons. His first son he sired at the height of his life, when his days stretched endless and golden before him and his queen. His first son was his pride and joy, his fierce dragon.

He sired his second son when his days started their decline, when the idea of the end began to stir in his mind. It was foolish to wait so late for another child, but his queen wanted a daughter, and he could deny her nothing.

The second son was born from his queen's corpse, and the king hated the phoenix-child.