Connor rested his chin on his hand, lost in thought, as he sat alone in his library. He hated waiting for news, but he could only be in one place at a time and right now he had to rely on his subordinates to complete their tasks before he could activate the crystal and begin summoning his army. He sighed. It truly was a nuisance, but what can you do?

He got up off the black chair and strolled around the shelves, pausing now and then to caress a favored item. The black gem emitted a shadowy spark when he brushed it. He still remembered vividly the day Morana had picked it up and started tossing it from one hand to the other. How she’d screamed when he corrected her. It had been a shame to scar up that lovely, pale skin, but you couldn’t expect your servants to learn if you didn’t provide the proper correction.

Mikhail’s presence jangled his nerves. Connor frowned. He hadn’t expected the black knight back so soon. Something must have gone wrong. If Mikhail was involved there was no other conclusion possible. He returned to the black chair and shook his head. Whatever mistake his unreliable servant had made, Connor would rectify it. Nothing would stop him from completing his great task.

Mikhail staggered through the library entrance, his armor charred and ash covered. It looked like someone had roasted him over a bonfire, a really hot one.

“Master.” He staggered over and collapsed to his knees. “The druid has failed and the cave is lost.”

“Damn it!” Connor leapt to his feet. He needed that cave and the repositioned ley lines to power his crystal. “We must reclaim it.”

Mikhail shook his head. “Gone. The boy destroyed it with me inside. I only survived by the slimmest margins.”

“The same boy that defeated you before?”

“Yes, Master.”

Connor snarled. This youth was getting to be a pain. “What of Eleck?”

“Taken prisoner. I fear he lacks the will to resist questioning.”

That was a considerable understatement. Eleck had less spine than a jellyfish. If anyone questioned him hard he’d tell them everything he knew. “This place is finished. We need to move, now.”

“Yes, Master.” Mikhail struggled to stand and failed.

His servant was useless in this condition. Connor grabbed him by the breastplate and yanked him to his feet. The warlock poured a small measure of his power into the demon armor. Mikhail straightened at once.

“Thank you, Master.”

“Keep silent. I have too much to do on my own. Collect the artifacts and place them in the trunks for transport. Carefully. If anything’s damaged I’ll shred what’s left of your soul. And leave the black gem. I’ll have need of it before we leave.”

While Mikhail packed Connor collected his three remaining crystal birds and set about warning his servants not to return to this place. He looked at the three tiny messengers. He’d lost so many of his minions over the past year, most to the same brat of a boy. It defied reason that someone so young could cause so much trouble. No matter, he’d deal with the brat in due course. For now he needed to find a place to set up the crystal. He had one option left, but it involved doing the one thing he hated most: swallowing his pride.

An hour later Mikhail had everything except the black gem packed safely in two leather trunks. Connor allowed himself a moment of nostalgia before they set out. He’d built this place with his own power. It was the first thing he’d claimed that wasn’t created by his forebears in the Horned One’s cult.

Oh well. Nothing lasted forever.

Connor set the black gem on his chair and sent a pulse of hellfire into it, priming the destructive energy inside. The first person to enter that didn’t possess corrupted soul force would receive a nasty surprise.

“Let’s go.” Connor gestured and a black globe appeared around the luggage. They left the cave and once outside he conjured a pair of shadowy horses. The two of them mounted up and flew into the air heading east.

“Where are we going, Master?”

“The haunted lands. I believe an ally there might help us.” After he’s done mocking me. “I had hoped not to have to rely on the creature, but with Eleck’s failure we have little choice.”

They galloped through the night sky, crossing over the mountains and into the haunted lands just before sunrise. There was no need to muck about at the pyramids this time. Connor knew exactly where they needed to go and how to get there.

They reached the palace just before midday. Without the paladin’s barrier Connor had no trouble flying through the hole Focalor had smashed in the ceiling and landing right in the middle of the library. He let their mounts vanish and pulled the bronze amulet out of his tunic.

“Guard the entrance. I don’t want anything following me to the vault.”

Mikhail drew his sword. “Nothing will get past me, Master.”

Connor set the amulet into the oval depression and the stairs formed. The walk down gave him plenty of time to think of the best way to approach the spirit in the mirror. He feared a bit of groveling might be necessary. He’d left Mikhail up above as much so he wouldn’t witness Connor negotiating with the spirit as to prevent anything from sneaking along behind him. Dealing with the spirit would be embarrassing enough without an audience.

After the long trudge down the stairs he reached the open chamber where he’d fought the guardian. Today the hellfire construct remained still. It probably recognized Connor as possessing the same corrupt soul force as that which sustained it. Whatever the reason he was glad not to have to fight the monster again.

It took only a moment to find the rune of opening and unseal the vault. It looked exactly like he remembered. Today Connor ignored the treasures hidden behind the rune-etched glass and focused his attention on the black mirror hanging on the back wall. His distorted reflection stared back at him.

“Are you just going to ignore me?” Connor asked.

His reflection wavered and shifted into a vaguely defined humanoid shape. “The court jester has returned. Come to help yourself to another of the master’s toys?”

“No. I’ve been considering your generous offer to show me where the wise king planned to activate the crystal. Upon further consideration I’ve decided your location might be best after all.”

The spirit’s glowing eyes narrowed. “Why the sudden change of heart?”

Before he could reply the spirit laughed, a grating sound like nails on slate. “Your efforts to secure a different location fell apart. So you’ve come crawling back, pretending you reconsidered, when you’ve really failed. Am I wrong?”

Connor clenched his jaw and bowed his head. “Your perceptions are keen, as expected of a servant of King Alexious. Indeed my initial efforts to secure a staging area didn’t work out. Are you still interested in getting out of this vault and going on a trip?”

“My first thought is to tell you to go to hell, but I badly want out of this vault. I haven’t seen anything but these three walls for hundreds of years. I will show you the way, warlock.”