All this my mother told me long ago.

So no more children shall be born from them either to suffer or to grow evil." Again she paused, nor did we interrupt her musing.
"My father ruled Ruszark," she said at last.

"Rustum he was named, of the seed of Rustum the Hero even as was my mother.

They were gentle and good, and it was their ancestors who built Ruszark when, fleeing from the might of Iskander, they were sealed in the hidden valley by the falling mountain.
"Then there sprang from one of the families of the nobles--Cherkis.
Evil, evil was he, and as he grew he lusted for rule.

On a night of terror he fell upon those who loved my father and slew; and barely had my father time to fly from the city with my mother, still but a bride, and a handful of those loyal to him.
"They found by chance the way to this place, hiding in the cleft which is its portal.