GILHADNAR BURST INTO the darkened study, breathing heavily from the run up the tower steps. “Master! Master, the gromek has escaped! He is nowhere to be found on the estate.”

Feeble light illuminated the book in Alimar the Black’s hands. The sounds of tiny, misshapen creatures in cages and bowls around the study filled the silence after the apprentice’s entrance. He swallowed nervously and lowered his eyes when the sorcerer finally looked away from the book. His expression spoke volumes to his anger at his reading being interrupted. “Has he now? Escaped, you say. And how is it you know this, Gilhadnar? I had not sent you to find him.”

The apprentice fidgeted at his master’s disapproval for his self-initiative. “I-I went to mock him for Tiwaz’s death and he-he was gone, Master,” Gilhadnar explained. As nervous as he was, he became more perplexed to the sorcerer’s uncharacteristic ambivalence. “Aren’t you…going to send the hunters after him, Master?”

Annoyed, the sorcerer accepted this admission, knowing the antipathy Gilhadnar bore for the gromek ever since he dared injure him and returned his attention to his book, voice bored. “Why? No doubt he crawled off into the wilds to die like the animal he is. He has no reason to live without his companion.” Alimar waved a hand dismissively. “There would be little entertainment value in bringing him or his soul back now.”

The apprentice blinked several times, more confused than ever. “But…you are allowing a slave to escape. You never allow slaves to attempt to run, even one as useless as that gromek pest!” He paled at the dark look turned up towards him. “F-forgive me, Master. I am not questioning your decision. I just think it is unlike you to-to allow—”

“Stop trying to think, Gilhadnar,” Alimar commanded in a bored voice, returning his gaze to his book. “It is definitely not one of your strengths.” He made a shooing gesture. “Go, before I decide to inflict on you what you expected to be visited on the gromek.” Gilhadnar hurried out, shutting the door more loudly than he intended.

As Alimar returned his attention to his reading, the face of Kragen appeared in the mirror to the sorcerer’s right. The demon’s face contorted into an evil, knowing smirk before fading away. The sorcerer looked up sharply, frowned briefly, then shook his head, going back to his reading.