Legends are not born, but made. Not fated, but carefully—or carelessly—shaped.
A lesson for the ages, there, but not one that every scholar takes to heart.
“Is it possible... can a man be born into the world to be something, for something?”
“Yes,” said the old man. “But even if he is, it doesn’t always happen. Too much can intervene. The world does what it does, under heaven. Our dreams, our certainties, crash into each other.”
“Like swords?” Daiyan said.
The old man shrugged. “Like swords, like ambitions at court.”
A silence.
Despite this oft-voiced thought, Ren Daiyan has felt possessed by something resembling destiny from an early age. As a boy of fifteen scant summers at the outset of Guy Gavriel Kay’s sublime new novel River of Stars, he is asked to help protect the sub-prefect on a gift-giving mission through treacherous territory. Thrilled by the prospect of “keeping order for the emperor” in some small way, he accepts the request.
Bandits fall upon the caravan in short order. Surprising everyone except himself, Daiyan single-handedly slaughters them all.
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