An Urrabite had once called Valka an “angel of death.” Valka did not know what that meant, so she asked.

     After a lengthy discussion, with many difficulties of translation, Valka had learned that an “angel” was a sort of celestial being found in the mythology of the Southern peoples – the word apparently meant “messenger,” as in a divine messenger, a messenger of the gods. But a messenger of death? How did that apply?

     Not very well, it seemed. From what Valka could make out, there were several legends among different peoples of the South of a divine messenger – an angel – sent by the gods to bring death to their enemies, or to mortals who displeased them, at any rate. Sometimes,...

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