And Elua wandered the bosom of his mother Earth, and his Companions remained at his side through lands harsh and stony. Here the creatures of the earth tended him, or he would surely have perished, for many years they sojourned. In the plains of Akkad, padding lions led him to honey. In Tiroc Pass, a great eagle flew each morning, stooping low over ice and crags to drop a bright berry in blessed Elua's mouth. North, he wandered, then west, and in the dark woods of the Skaldic hinterlands, the ravens and wolves were his friends, but the tribesmen gave him no heed, brandishing their terrible axes and calling upon their gods in words of blood and iron. So blessed Elua wandered, and snowdrops poked their heads above the drifts where he went.

Westward and westward, with his Companions at his side, blessed Elua wandered and came at last in summer to a land unnamed where olives grew, grapes and melons, and lavender bloomed in fragrant clouds. And here the people welcomed him as he crossed the fields, opening their arms, and blessed Elua took them for his own and loved them. This place, he made his home, and it was called in his name ever after, Terre d'Ange.

In seven parts did Elua's Companions divide the land among themselves to rule, saving only Cassiel, who remained ever at Elua's side and loved him as a brother. And these parts were named Namarre, Siovale, Eisande, L'Agnace, Azzalle, Camlach and Kusheth and therein they dwelt, but blessed Elua himself would claim no part, wandering freely in the whole; yet along the banks of a mighty river, where he tarried longest, the City of Elua with its white walls was founded.

For many years they dwelled there and abided by blessed Elua's precept, that was, "Love as thou wilt." And Elua and his Companions lay with women and with men, and many children were begotten, save only unto Cassiel, who kept the One God's commandments. But the other Companions did not, and those secrets which they had brought from Heaven, they did teach to their children, and they grew wise in many arts.

Now, when the One God left off his grieving and turned His thoughts to them He was wroth, for He saw that their offspring would overrun the earth, and He sent the leader of his host to summon blessed Elua before His throne. But blessed Elua smiled upon the leader of the One God's host and gave him the kiss of peace, laying wreathes of flowers about his neck, and the One God's commander returned ashamed and empty-handed.

It came then to the One God that He held no dominion over Elua, who was begotten in Earth's womb and did not answer to Heaven; yet through this he was mortal, and subject to mortality. Thus the One God pondered long, and sent his arch-herald with an offer of forgiveness, did blessed Elua summon his Companions and leave the soil of mortal earth and go in peace to take his place at the right hand of Heaven.

Blessed Elua smiled upon the arch-herald, and turned to his boon companion Cassiel, asking the loan of his dagger. Taking it, he scored the palm of his hand. Bright blood welled in his palm and fell in fat drops to the earth, and anemones bloomed. "My grandfather's Heaven is bloodless," Elua told the arch-herald, "And I am not. Let him offer a better place, where we may love and sing and grow as we are wont, where our children and our children's children may join us, and I will go." The arch-herald paused, awaiting the One God's response. "There is no such place," he replied.

And there was silence in Heaven and in Terre d'Ange, while blessed Elua's blood fell upon the soil and scarlet anemones bloomed, and his children and his children's children did watch and marvel. And for the first time in many thousands of years did Earth speak to Her once-husband, and say, "It may be done. Let us create it together, You and I." This was done, and such a thing has not happened since.

Thus was the creation of the true Terre d'Ange that lies beyond mortal perception, and blessed Elua and his Companions went willingly into it, passing not through the dark gate of death, but straightway through the bright gate. And alone among them, only Cassiel gazed backward in sorrow.

Generation upon generation, the blood of Elua and his Companions runs still in the veins of their descendants, each of whom will one day follow to the land that lies beyond. And though centuries pass, they do not forget, but call their land still after that further one, and keep always sacred the precept of blessed Elua, that is, "Love as thou wilt."

Such is Terre d'Ange.