.

Andrea takes you along the Great Hall and up two flights of wide stairs. Partway along a hallway, she leads you through a door, and you find yourself in the Council Chamber of the Druids. Rows of seats rise on three sides of the room--"A gallery for viewing and visitors," Andrea explains. "Often emissaries from throughout the Four Lands come to bring messages or requests to the Council. I'm afraid there's no Council meeting scheduled for today, though." In the center of the floor stands a large oval table, surrounded by the chairs of the members of the Druid Council. The far wall is a lined with stained glass windows. Some of these seem to be of great antiquity, but the one in the center seems newer. Chief among the things pictured in that window is a sword in a marble block, which you immediately identify as the Sword of Shannara. In a scroll across the bottom of this window is the legend: Ab Scientia, Servitium. Andrea points to this. "This is our motto--Through Knowledge, Service. All that the Druids learn and know is to be used for the benefit of the Four Lands. That is our purpose and the end meaning of all our oaths." Andrea looks at you carefully again, then takes you down the hallway to another door. Beyond it you find yourself even more amazed--there are more books here, lining the walls of the Library, than you have ever seen in your life. Andrea sits in one of the armchairs located around the room. After allowing you to gaze around the room for a time, she motions for you to be seated as well. "The time has come for you to decide," she says, looking you in the eyes. Do you wish to study with the Druids? Or do you want to go home?