"So weak minded, what a shame," a strange voice said. 

The words rang in her head like the gong of the dead, awakening her. The someone held her then placed her—she peaked—on a bed.

Merryn forced herself not to stiffen jamming them shut. Is he gone? He hadn't harmed her so far. Thoughts of what if froze her.

She swallowed, her dry tongue stuck to the roof of her mouth. It was a fight not to roll over and plead for a cup.

Quiet now. Had the stranger left? She cracked an eye open. Gone? She pushed up slow with every muscle opposing her. Where is this? She rubbed her forehead. Maybe Unnamed? It didn't seem like it, not like him.

She dropped off the bed and went to the doorway. Her muscles locked up as a man stood in the doorway. A youth with mid-length brown hair and hard eyes. The robe he wore was the same, embroidered with gold on its edges and cuffs. A scaled clawed staff floated at his side.

He moved closer.

Merryn froze. A force emanated from him, it felt like a ward of some sort.

He flashed her a dimpled grin. Trying to charm me? Jerk!

She darted back and forth. There had to be a way out of here. Easing into a fighting stance she raised her fists. The training had been quick mostly to do with weapons. Still, a well landed punch hurt.

He stepped over, she lunged forward and jabbed his cheek. He stumbled back a step. Then quick as a serpent knocked her head with his staff.

"Arrg!" Holding her head in her hands and groaned. Why did they always have to hit the head?

When he came closer she stood up and backed into the stairwell. Startling she ran to the left.

He snatched her as she ran, tapped her head, picked her up then snapped his fingers.

The weight of the daggers disappeared.

"So naughty can't have you hurting me."

He waved a dagger in her face, then exhaled while hefting her over his shoulder.

"Heavy for a woman, your armor made of lead?"

She beat on his back until her arms burned as he carried her back up.

"Your back should at least be fractured by now." She sighed, slumping against him the body refusing to move.

"I'm prepared. You think that I'd take on an Elven without protection?" His laugh was soft as he went down.

"Let go of me human!" She clenched her teeth grinding them.

He laughed harder.

What the hells? Hot tears dripped off her cheeks and she flicked the shameful things away.

"May the blight of the mountains find you in that you never become warm again."

"Ah, it's good to be back home. Those grasslands were making me sneeze." 

The portal above closed as he descended. As he went down the long stairway each torch near him sparked to life as he passed. The shadows behind stretched flowing up the walls as he turned the bend.

Large dusk-rats filled his workshop running about with daily tasks. They stood about five feet high with black or brown fur. A few came over sniffing her. They were musty like old earth in a valt. She sneezed.

"Get away!" The stink was unbelievable did they ever bathe?

She pinched her nose shut.

Large black eyes glinted in the candlelight. One came up to him as he stepped off the last stair holding a platter of food in its paws.

"Thank you, Rush, follow."

They continued down a long hallway passing several doors on either side. Some were boarded shut. The rat followed behind. He flicked his fingers at a large metal door. It glowed for before it opened.

Inside was a lavish bedroom, in the middle a plush bed. He gently put her down on it. Turning around he flicked his fingers at the fireplace. The logs burst into flames, the fire chased the shadows back.

Her heart pounded in her chest as she lunged at him, the door behind was open, just need to get past.

He caught her arm pulling her back on the bed.

She pulled and yanked, punching his chest; anything she could reach.

"Let me go now when your spell wears off human–"

"While I appreciate your spirit, attacking me is foolish. Sit and rest. I'll return later with a drink."

He turned to the dusk-rat.

"Set that on the table Rush."

The rat set the platter on a table next to the bed. He patted its head then bent down.

"I'll break your fingers!" Could if I have to. This was a gray area but pretty sure they'd let it pass.

She slid off the bed watching him. She went over to the wash basin throwing it. If he comes one step closer. She glared at him.

"Stop that right now. Calm yourself." He came over then removed her pouches.

"What is it you want?"

He grinned at her. "You. Now that I have you what I really want to be harder to obtain."

He looked her up and down. "I've been watching you for quite some time. I had to make sure it was you."

The skin on her arms prickled.

"What do you mean?" She cringed inwardly at the obvious question.

"I need to ... how to word this?"

Edging off the bed while continuing to watch his face.

"Hey, sit back down. Now."

His green heavy-lidded eyes narrowed. Like a rush of wind, an air of seriousness surrounded him again.

She froze then plopped back on the bed. Blast it all.

"Look, even though you don't believe me right now, I have a valid reason for taking you away from the others. I need to talk with you."

"I don't care what your reasons are. They aren't good enough!" Stupid, arrogant, wizard, he hasn't even grown in his whiskers yet.

She huffed while crossing her arms and turned.

"I come back the next 'morrow." He brushed the stray hairs behind her ears before she could back away.

She flinched. "Never—"

He caught her hand by the wrist mid slap.

"I will not tolerate this behavior, Miss Dentree."

She started.

"Yes, that's right."

The hint of an accent that slipped out sounded so familiar, much like the ... the recognition flittered away.

His mouth twitched as if he fought to speak. He closed the door locking it.

Only one person spoke like that, and he was long dead.

She sat on the bed surveying the room, no windows anywhere straight ahead was a fireplace, to the right against the wall a large closet.

Her stomach growled she looked at the food. Better not, the food had to be poisoned or worse.

In a moment she knelt near the fireplace and peaked up into the chimney. It's too narrow, so that option is out.

She padded over to the large closet, it was empty except for a few robes and boots and ran her hands on the walls, there wasn't any hidden doors or switches.

Nothing.

A whine came from her that refused to go back down. Stop it. She rubbed her wrist repeatedly and tried to push back the tears. Don't not now, quit it.

All this did was make it easier for the tears to well up and roll down the sides of her cheeks. They aren't coming so quit the blubbering. She bit her lip hard, the pain helped and the circling thoughts slowed. A few minutes later she was able to focus again.

Now, did he find my picks? She took a bit off and untied the metal tree emblem pressing the trunk, the thin top slid off to the side, four lockpicks came out of the hidden slots in the branches. She allowed a smug grin to for a moment as she placed the emblem on the bed. There were very few locks that stayed unlocked.

She placed them on the small table next to the door, she gripped the pick wiggling it in the lock then placed the last two above the first.

The third was hooked she wedged it under the latch pushing up. It clicked. That had to be the best sound in the world.

Calling to the spirit of Umbra his cool shadows flowed from her feet to her ear tips. Need to move quickly as every step the spirit took its payment, a mild tiredness had started in her limbs already.

Getting up she sprinted down the corridor. There had to be an exit somewhere. The hallway turned to the right this led to a flight of stairs.

The torches flickered into the depths, the walls were too close. Way to small. Her chest tightened. Don't lose it.

She managed not to run back up the stairs. After what seemed like an eternity the bottom showed a vague glow only a few steps away. Dusk rats fill the lower area. Her hands shimmered as she squeezed them. The spell should work, just hug the wall.

Down into it, a few were off near a cell door where they tried to poke at a young bugbear with sticks.

"Out of here we have no food for you," they squeaked.

The small furry bugbear snapped weakly at them. On impulse, she kicked both of the Dusk rats as hard as she could.

They crashed into a vat of putrid green glop behind them. The Dusk rats shrieked as they flailed about. The glop dissolved their body's.

The rest ran and hid in the shadows.

Turning back to the bugbear she picked it up patting its head.

"Hush, be quiet."

The so ugly it's cute thing quieted down then fell asleep. She wrapped her cloak around it.

Weaving in and out of the cell room she edged away from the rest of the rats. She pressed her body against the wall making her way into a huge room. There were large floating round containers filling the room. What was that pink sludge for?

To the side, strange tubing ran the length of the floor. It connected to the base of a mechanical device. It had a thick tube that was connected to a container. At its base was a metal seat with glowing buttons.

The room extended into a hallway filled with more of the containers on both sides. At the end of the hallway was a stairwell that led upwards.

She went over to peek around the corner. Another room with a table in the center books overflowing in piles in the corners littered with scrolls slipshod on the tables.

On some of the tables were empty bottles, vials, knives along with other items. Silver metal glinted upon a shelf. My daggers. Taking them she slipped them back in their sheaths.

A small window was a hand spread above. The bugbear wrapped its limbs around her arm. She dug her feet and fingers into the brick wall. She pulled up to it.

Several black eyes stared back at her.

She covered her mouth, suppressing a scream as she fell.

There's no way he didn't hear that. She settled for squeezing into the rightmost corner.

Footsteps echoed in the corridor. Kar entered.

"Next time I find her I'm throwing away her clothing."

Rush looked up at him. Kar placed the tree emblem on the table.

He patted her on the head before stooping to eye level with the rat.

"Go find her, and block all exits."

Rush ran off down the stairs a few minutes later claws scurried in the corridor.

Kar as he walked pulled out a vial that had an orange liquid in it, he placed it on the table.

"Just once, to have someone listen."

The smell of it hit her, from across the room. She crinkled her nose, thick heavy spices that had gone rancid.

The bugbear woke up fussing. Oh, please be quiet! She petted it. The bugbear grabbed onto her wrist with both its paws pulling her fingers into its mouth. It nipped on one hard. She clamped down her jaw.

Kar turned around stepping over. His face showed nothing. After a time, he headed back to the nearby table.

She relaxed a touch but still watched his movements. At this rate, there was only one thing to do. She leaned leftward. Should be enough space to run.

He took a small silver bag, opened it, stepped in front of her and tossed a handful of red powder from a pouch. Her hidden spell broke as the powder settled on top of her head.

The baby bugbear jumped away running off into a large hole in the wall. She scrambled then crashed into a shelf while bolting for the doorway.

He stared straight down at her.

"There's no place to hide in here, it's enchanted just for you."

"All that trouble for me?" She said, each word slow and her smile was of fang.

She clenched her hands open and closed repeatedly. The hell with it. She ripped her daggers out of their sheaths piercing his shoulder; instead of the expected screech, his eyebrow twitched and he pulled it out. He touched the wound with the staff and it closed.

She gagged on her tongue, her words an incoherent jabber.

"Hush, before you pass out."

She scrambled back. Going around the table looked like an exit. She lunged-

He held her arm without straining.

"That will be enough. Go back to the room or I'll be forced to hasten your–"

He breathed in deep.

"Appointment."

This more than anything sent a shiver down her spine.

Before she could react he picked up a dust filled bottle tossing it at her chest. The dust burst to turn blue.

"You said we were going to talk!"

"Weaken," he said.

Her legs folded under her and she slumped forward. Kar caught her by her shoulders; all this happened in the span of a few seconds.

"I hate you," she said, shreaking.

Her whole body became numb. She pulled in frenzied breaths.

"Calm yourself I will not touch you. You're proving to be a problem, and I can't afford to have you leave."

He carried her and laid her on a bench. His eyes glittered while he stood over her. The screams bubbled in her throat she forced them back down. I won't.

He went back to the table took a vial then squeezed the sides of her mouth pouring the liquid down her throat.

"That will get you under control. As the spell will wear off soon."

"You Dentrees are so dramatic."

He pressed a brown button on the table she hadn't noticed before.

Four Dusk rats came into the room.

"Yes, master?" Their teeth were long and sharp. It was a wonder they could close their mouths.

"Carry her and follow." He walked off and turned the corner.

They picked her up with their grimy claws, hoisting her on their shoulders.

A while later down a flight of stairs back to the container room. Kar bent over placing her inside a large round glass container. It was filled with a slimy pink liquid. Going to drown! She held her breath until her lungs burned and gray blotches danced before her eyes.

With no choice, she breathed in the thick liquid. Instead of a painful choking and burning lungs, it breathed like air. This had to charmed or something. Everything became a haze; the emotions still there, but muted.

A glass globe surrounded her its total the size of a small table. At least it looked like one, it was hard to see as she was floating face down in the murky pinkish liquid.

Kar sat down into the seat carved into the machine. He then pressed a series of buttons. Rush trailing behind him stood over on his side.

"E ee o ...," Kar said. It came from a distance. The sludge garbled its clarity.

First, he pressed the colored buttons in a sequence. Slowly, small minute green droplets rose out of her body. They went up into the tubes. Each time it did this her head hurt. This went on for a long time. She wasn't sure if it was hours or days.

She tried to move, to will something into compliance.

"Keep tryin ..."

Rush squeaked as she fiddled with the controls.

"Turn it up." Kar rummaged around the room.

Rush fiddled with a slick stone screen that lit up as text appeared on it. She tapped on it and scrolled the text.

"Still alive. It week."

And I'm to do that how? Go away.

And, go on a mindless killing spree? No!

Rush cranked a dial and more droplets were pulled from her, they passed through her skin and collected in the sludge.

Shouting and footfalls. Maybe, not sure everything was muffled.

Kar bit his fist and let out a muffled scream.

He took his fist out if his mouth. "Try, ... faster!"

"You ... dust eater. Get ... of there now!"

"Dare to ... orders, in my home? You ... manners."

A sizzling sound, then screams.

"Han!"

"I've had ... you." A strange whoosh and crackle.

She thumped on the glass. The other arm hung uselessly as she punched the glass until her muscles refused to move and her knuckles bloody. It was so loud. The glass shattered. She fell out and dropped onto the floor.

Wonderful, more pain. Hands on her, she was flipped over. Parcival helped her sit upright. He wrapped his arms around her squeezing.

She coughed.

"Please let go."

"Sorry." He let go of her.

Back at home such close contact wasn't done in public. Heat burned her cheeks. "Thank you."

"It's my job glad to help. Where did crazy go off to?" His face smoothed out to seriousness again.

"Not sure." She scanned the room. She tried to move again and the other arm worked but not her feet.

"Are you hurt again?" Han moved over to her.

"No, but-"

"I do not think you two will be going anywhere ... ever again." Hissed a voice behind them.

They turned around.

"Come on get up." Parcival turned his head.

"I can't he threw some sort of powder on me." She clenched her hands. Should have paid more attention. How could I have missed that?

Can't let them do this alone. She pushed off the floor with her hands leaning to the side until she toppled on her stomach.

Kar had his dragon claw staff gripped tightly in his left hand. The water in it swirled around inside the claw's palm. His eyes turned to slits. Tipping his staff sent a large water ball straight at Parcival.

A second later Parcival knelt down, rolling over he stuck his sword into the water ball's path, it ricochet off the flat of the blade, smacked into the wall to the left, that slogged down like a thin scroll. A few seconds later it was heavy of water and splashed down; a gaping hole. That was impressive.

Parcival stood up.

Kar fazed out of view, and like a breath of wind crossed the twenty feet between them; ramming him against the wall.

Up. Get up. She pushed off the floor. She clawed at the brick wall and gouged chunks out of the crumbling mortar and tried to stand her legs still would not respond. She slid back down and serpentined towards him pulling forward with her hands on the smooth stone floor.

Kar raised his staff near his face and pressed him up high on the wall with his free hand.

As it pulsed white tear shaped wisps connected by the thinnest of ghostly threads were drawn into the staff.

"I will rip your soul out of your body and trap it here," Kar said.

Gasping for a breath his face became increasingly pale with each passing second.

Parcival looked over his eyes widened then he turned away avoiding her gaze.

Han rushed at Kar slashing at him with his saber.

"Let him go you sick, twisted leach you're killing him!"