The Chaoswar Saga: A Kingdom Besieged, A Crown Imperilled, Magician’s End. Raymond E. Feist

we know is this: the Pantathians are artificial creatures, not natural beings, but rather snakes raised up to human form, given existence by their Dragon Lord Mistress, Alma-Lodaka.’

      ‘Could they really do that?’ asked Jim. ‘I mean, create life?’

      ‘No, not exactly,’ said Magnus. He glanced at his father who nodded for him to continue. ‘They could manipulate it, not create it. The Valheru were beings of enormous power, godlike even, but they were not gods. And the Pantathians were not the only product of Valheru tinkering.’

      ‘Really?’ said Jim, his fatigue wearing off as he became more interested. Here was a discussion about important things that didn’t involve people trying to kill him or destroy the Kingdom.

      ‘There’s a race of tiger men near the Necropolis called the City of the Dead Gods, in Novindus. And once a race of giant eagles, big enough to carry a man, flew the skies.’

      Jim frowned. ‘Perhaps we should go back to things I might comprehend.

      ‘If this Lifestone no longer exists then, assuming for a moment the Pantathians are behind every mad thing that is underway right now, what could they be after that would possibly benefit them by having the Kingdom and Kesh plunged into total war?’

      ‘I have no idea,’ said Pug.

      ‘And, while we’re on the topic of madness, can you even begin to suggest the part the demons have in this?’

      ‘No,’ said Pug.

      ‘Except,’ said Magnus, ‘they did manage one thing.’

      ‘What?’

      ‘It just occurred to me that they did force the Star Elves to return to the world of their birth.’