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[Thrax]

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Kotare awoke from his nap with a start. He looked instinctively at the door as a matter of habit. Usually the sound of the food slot opening and closing would jar him to wakefulness about this time of day. He saw no plate and no food. "Suits me," he thought to himself. For many days he had refused to drink or eat much, only enough to stave off severe hunger pangs, knowing the food was tainted with what might be poison. He heard the noise again, as if someone were standing just outside, trying to work the lever that opened the food slot door. He stood up and walked over to it, waiting expectantly, but hoping the operator would make some mistake, fail to be alert, so he could work it to his advantage. Escape was ever on his mind.

The slot opened slowly. The Duke readied himself, preparing to grab at the hand which he expected soon would slide the tray of food onto the small shelf built into the door on his side. Moments passed. Nothing happened. He heard a voice, a woman's voice, speaking to him softly. "I do not know you, but I know of you. You are an honorable man and do not deserve this treatment. I give you your freedom. Go quickly now, Duke, and return to those you love," she said.

A red leather bag flew through the slot and landed on the floor at the Duke's feet. "You will find all you need inside," the voice stated. "Make haste!"

"Who are you?" Kotare inquired. "Why are you doing this?" he asked, confused and still harboring some suspicion. He stooped to pick up the bag.

"I am someone who still loves your captor, and hopes some day to save him, as one you love once saved you," came the cryptic reply. "Yet I cannot abide his evil, and will undo it when I can."

The bag contained a full spellbook, the reagents needed for the recall spell, and a rune to his own home. Stunned, but not quite speechless, he said, "Thank you, Lady... thank you!"

"Forgive me for taking so long to do this," she replied. "I only recently learned you were being kept here, and, amazingly enough, I still have access to this vile place. After today, I am sure I will not. Go now, and gain your freedom." The slot door closed abruptly and he faintly heard, outside his room, the spell words "Kal Ort Por."

Targeting the rune she gave him, he cast the same spell, and found himself safe at home. He hurried into the house, amazed that he was, at long last, free.

[Thrax]

---

"You made sure you were unseen by either of them, and that her progress was unimpeded?" Alicia asked. She had been listening with rapt attention to the report Skurj had given her concerning the exodus of Duke Kotare from the Oubliette.

Skurj nodded. "Indeed. All went as you planned. Why did we not just release him ourselves?"

Alicia smiled, finding the naivete of the question amusing. "And dare give the impression that we are compassionate, and therefore weak? No, it was easier to allow Nefariana to do our bidding in this. Besides, it aids us two ways. First, we know that she is now actively opposed to us, something we suspected for a long time, and two, we needed the space for our new prisoner, Dharzhal."

Undaunted, Skurj continued, "But is this Lord Thrax's wish?"

"It is. I spoke with him just yesterday. He tells me that we must seek a new base of operations, that Yew no longer holds any interest for him since our allies, the orcs, for one reason or another, show little for it either. And our battle strength is not sufficient yet to fight and defeat all the allied forces who would defend it should we attack outright to lay claim to it. Besides, even if the merchants managed to hide most of their wealth, they were never a great source of revenue for us. Look at the ragged hovels they live in and work out of; the entire place is a swamp, a cesspool, unfit for human habitation. Oggaroth has seen to that."

"So where do we turn? Did my father indicate our next objective?"

"Our objective shall be Papua. Long has Lord Thrax considered that forgotten town. It is a sleepy community, thus far unaffected and far removed from the cares of the rest of Sosaria. It is time the troubles of the world, its dark realities, made their way there, don't you think?"

"Yes. No reason they should enjoy the quiet life while others suffer so greatly," Skurj mocked.

"Call the others. Another meeting is needed. And make sure that your mother can no longer intrude upon our affairs. Secure the Citadel from all possible enemies. Make it sure," Alicia ordered.

"It shall be done." Skurj saluted, and left.