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Prologue

Once upon a ti home after many years of war Trimp tramp! Trimp tramp! Trimp tramp! sounded their boots as theyneither to the left nor right For so they had been taught to et the ritual of many years The wars and battles were over, but I do not know if our soldiers had won or lost them, and maybe it does not matter Their clothes were tattered, their boots more holes than leather, and not one of the soldiers journeyed home the same man as had left it

By and by, they came to a crossroads, and here they halted to consider their choices One road led to the west, the way straight and well paved One road trailed to the east into a dark and secret forest And one road pointed north, where the shadows of lonely mountains lay

“Well, fellows,” the tallest soldier said at last, taking off his hat and scratching his head, “shall we toss a coin?”

“Nay,” said the soldier to his right “My way lies there” And he bid his co back as he disappeared into the dark forest

“I aestured to thein the distance

“And as for , “I will take this easy road, for such has always been my choice But what of you?” he asked the last soldier “What road will you take?”

“Ah, hed “I believe there is a pebble in uing me these many miles” He suited action to word and found a nearby boulder to rest against

The tall soldier clapped his hat back on his head “Then it is decided”

The re soldiers shook hands cordially and went their separate ways But what adventures befell them and whether their travels led them safely home I cannot tell you, for this is not their story This is the tale of that first soldier, the one alked away into the dark forest

His name was Iron Heart

—from Iron Heart

Chapter One

Now Iron Heart got his nah his limbs and face, and indeed all the rest of his body, were exactly like every other man created by God, his heart was not It was made fro, brave, and steadfast

—from Iron Heart