Far above the sparkling white beaches of Narkhopolis, higher yet than the glittering towers which gleam and shine in the bright sun of an azure sky, stands the castle of Arth, king of fair Narkhopolis.  However, higher yet than this was the tower wherein dwelt the daughter of Arth, the Princess Jalyyna.

     The princess was much loved by the people, and she returned her love to them.  Yet the one who held her heart was TuNahk, who commanded the trade ships of her father's fleet.  King Arth was not pleased with this, for he felt that his daughter should be wed into royalty, and he was conspiring to bring about her engagement to one of the sons of Lord Ducam, whose realm lay across the nearby river Ula.

     The princess was greatly distressed by news of this and hurriedly sought out TuNahk.  The merchant-sailor was equally distraught, for he had no desire to lose her; and so they vowed to flee from the seaport of Narkhopolis and seek another sanctuary where they could dwell together for the rest of their days.

     Having sailed many times upon the vast oceans of the world, Tunahk was well acquainted with several strange and exotic lands.  They at last agreed to live upon the small islands which lay to the south of the little-known land of S'ark, for these were known to few mariners and were marked on no maps.

     Since the princess could not be legally betrothed for another year, it was decided that TuNahk would set sail and make things ready for her.  He would then return for her long before her father could marry her into the realm of Ducam.

     It was a long and tearful farewell between the two lovers.  As TuNahk sailed into the darkness, the last thing he saw upon the white beaches of Narkhopolis was the fair form of Jalyyna, and then the night surrounded her.

     The journey to the land of S'ark was not overly long, for TuNahk was a well-experienced sailor, and after making certain arrangements in several ports, he set sail for the nameless islands which lay far to the south of the strange land he had just visited.  Here the voyage became somewhat difficult, for he had sailed these waters only once before, long years ago when he was but a lad.

     Unfortunately, as the merchant sailed farther southwards, sudden storms struck his small ship and TuNahk realized that he was being driven into waters that he had never sailed before, and he was fearful that he would be lost at sea forever.

     Yet, as the storms abated, he was relieved to see a gentle slope of green rise before his eyes, and he quickly made his way to the island, hoping that it was one of those for which he was searching.

     Landing upon the isle, he hurried along the coastline, and began a careful search of the island.  He came across nothing that he had seen before, and the absence of any ports for the docking of trade ships caused him to realize that this was not one of the islands with which he was familiar.

     Fearful that he might be hopelessly lost, he returned to his craft.  Just as he was making ready to set sail, he heard a voice cry out to him.  As he turned, he saw a number of young and nubile maidens clad only in flowing robes of yellow silk emerging from the lush undergrowth.  They moved slowly towards him.

     Whatever apprehension he may have had at their sudden appearance quickly left him as he gazed upon the beauty of the young women.  When he moved to meet them he was quickly surrounded.  They spoke to him, telling him that he was the first traveler to visit their island since some of them had been born.

     The merchant asked them of their life there, and as an entourage they guided him into the jungle which abounded upon the isle, and they soon led him to a vast city near the center of the island.  Various buildings were set with gold and precious jewels, and over the entire city was an air of opulence and decadence.  Tunahk forgot even the gleaming towers of Narkhopolis as he gazed with dazed eyes upon the beauty of the metropolis before him.

     The maidens took him further into the labyrinths of the city and soon he was standing before the palace, wherein dwelt the ruler of this fantastic realm.  As they entered the bright crystal walls of the palace, he was amazed to see various exotic creatures wandering about the halls which he and his entourage traversed.

     After relating the tales of his misadventures to the kindly monarch enthroned upon a huge divan, he again was led through the city.  The maidens eagerly told him of the many wonders which their island city held and the merchant gladly followed them upon a tour of their most wondrous sights.

     Yet TuNahk was somewhat troubled, for, as often as he asked, no one could tell him the name of this astonishing realm; but as time passed his worries vanished, as did the memories of his beloved princess.  Indeed, with such numerous and wondrous curiosities, all his thoughts were centered upon the island.

     Much time passed as he dwelt amongst the wonders of the island.  It was as if his life had been a mere phantasy before and he did not come into existence until he'd trod upon the beaches of this nameless isle.  Yet, late one warm sultry night, when he could but fitfully sleep, dreams came to him, a dream in which the fair figure of the forgotten princess beckoned piteously toward him as furtive figures surrounded her, taking her from his sight.

     With a rising sense of alarm, he set out immediately for Narkhopolis, though the young nymphs implored him to stay, saying that if he left he could never return.  He brushed them aside and sailed into the warm gentle seas, leaving the nameless island far behind him.

     As he journeyed toward his homeland, TuNahk could not stop pondering over his enigmatic dream, and he prayed mightily to all the gods he knew that all was well with the princess.

     His return to the white sparkling beaches of Narkhopolis did not seem to have taken that long, yet as he neared the seaport which had been the home of his family for countless generations, no towers rose gleaming in the sun to greet his eyes, nor could he see the castle of King Arth, which loomed high over the city itself.  As his small boat neared the shore, he looked inland.  Before his startled and horrified eyes stretched a scene of utter and complete desolation.

     The mighty metropolis lay in absolute ruin.  The once proud towers and monoliths lay in crumpled mounds and over all grew a thick heavy mass of nettles and weeds.  TuNahk landed his craft upon the beach, for the great wharves were gone, with only a few odd stones to show where they had once stood.  As he made his way through the remnants of the once fair seaport, he could not help but wonder at what catastrophe could have befallen his beloved city.

     Glancing upwards to the home of his beloved princess, TuNahk was distressed that he could still see no sign of the castle of Arth.  Quickly he moved toward it, hoping that he might discover some clue as to the strange fate which had come upon his home.  However, as he neared the mighty castle, he saw that the massive gates were all that still stood of the once proud fortress, and that all else lay in ruin.

     TuNahk turned to leave when his eye caught a wisp of yellow smoke.  Drawing his blade, he cautiously sought out the source, only to discover that it was but an old hermit who was dwelling among the ruined walls of the castle.  He eagerly queried the old man for information concerning the destruction of Narkhopolis and the words which he heard turned his heart cold.

     Long ago, Arth had decreed that his daughter, the Princess Jalyyna, would soon wed one of the sons of Ducam, the ruler of Pha-lu, which lay just across the river Ula.  Upon hearing this, the Princess took her own life, for she had sworn her undying love to one named TuNahk.

     Ducam grew indignant over this affront and a state of war was declared.  Both sides suffered severely, and soon only the powers of the Court Magickians were able to sustain Narkhopolis and Pha-lu; at long last even their mighty abilities were exhausted, and both were lost in defeat and desolation.

     All this, said the hermit, had happened many many years ago, and people now speak seldom of Narkhopolis, save to curse the name of TuNahk, who had destroyed both the beloved Princess and her fair city.

     Dazed as he began to understand what the old man had told him, TuNahk slowly made his way back to his ship.  Just as he was preparing to set sail, he caught his reflection in a speculum dangling from one of his ship's ropes.  As he bent forward, the words of the island maidens came upon him, for reflected in the polished metal was the face of an old weathered man, and with a deep moan of despair TuNahk realized that he had somehow been bewitched, and that he had lost all that he had ever held dear—his home, his beloved Princess, even his very name.

     With hopelessness enveloping him, he set off into the darkening sea, setting his course for the nameless isle.  There, he reasoned, might be the only place he could live out his last days.  Yet, as he sailed farther and farther into the southern seas, he found no trace of that strange nameless isle.  Still he sailed on in his desperate quest, and therein passed from both the knowledge and the eyes of man.