The tunnel was wide, opening to many smaller tunnels on either side. All of Kalkavan’s loyal servants lived here and Azizule claimed the first class suite.

Galk arrived at the end of the tunnel and the entrance to Azizule’s abode. The dreadful hissing told him the Asharon was present. The fire from his torch showed a circular hole gaping in the stone wall. Galk ducked into the circle and found himself in a macabre laboratory.

The laboratory was as dark as the tunnel, but Galk could make out the shapes of glass cylinders and stone slabs where corpses lay, bodies Azizule had dissected and examined. One of these shapes was a large red bundle, which stirred as Galk entered.

“What, does my lord require?” The voice was a metallic and barely coherent whisper that made Galk grind his teeth.

The Asharon had been sitting alone in the dark, pondering whatever such monsters pondered. Azizule stood up now, however, and turned on the light. A blue orb blossomed somewhere behind the creature, highlighting his wretched form. He was very tall, but made shorter by a terribly hunched back. Like all his kind, he wore a dark red hooded robe, which obscured his body and head. Just visible was the bronze breastplate he wore, and the silver beak sticking out beneath his cowl. The constant hissing came from steam that funnelled out of a socket in his breastplate.

“I…uh.” Galk tried to speak, losing his train of thought.

Dead, withered tentacles dragged across the ground as the Asharon moved toward him, resembling giant black snakes.

Galk composed himself. “Our Master has a job for you. He trusts only you to collect someone and bring him back here. He asks that you leave at once.”

Azizule stopped directly in front of him. The hood was pulled so far down that Galk could see only the beak and nothing of a face.

“Here.” He held out the vial of blood, making sure his arm didn’t shake. “You’re to bring back a boy. Lord Kalkavan knows you can track him down with this.”

 Yes, like the loyal sniffer dog you are.

Azizule stretched out a hand covered by his blood red cloak and gently took the vial from him. “His wish will be done.”

“Ah…good. Our lord won’t accept failure. This boy is of great importance. You must bring him back quickly, and-” Galk cut off when Azizule’s raised his hand. At the end of his sleeve a light blossomed as he used a Rambrace to summon a portal.

“Yes,” Galk said.