All men have heard tales of Mathan son of Ardal, Mad Bear of the Western Dearth, but who can say if any are true? One man knows. For forty years, Tigue, Bard of Taermun, stumbled beside him, carried his burdens and fought his wars. He was there in Mathan’s youth. He was there at the end. Pay heed then to the declaration of the bard for herein is no mere tale, but the faithful testimony of a scrupulous witness… and a legend of the truest sort.