The chamber in Castle Windfield

I drank the potion, strapped the dagger the Hermit Wizard gave me and lied down on the table as instructed by him. He then touched the center of my forehead the tips of his claw-like fingernails saying: "Now, think of this enemy of yours, try to see his face in your mind and say his name".

As I closed my eyes and saw the a pale fat bald face with a walrus-like mustache rosy cheeks and dark brown eyes laughing at me. My heart started to pound and my breathing quickened when I heard his laughter in my head.

"Lord Nasher." I said, trying to remain calm, but evoking his image brought with it feelings of impotence, anger and injustice. The memories of what he did to me and my family. I felt an uncontrollable urge to move, to raise my arms and grab him by the neck. I wanted to see his face turn purple and his eyes turn red. To slam his head against the wall again and again, each time hearing how his blood, spilling from the back of his skull, splashes louder and louder.

I could not resist any more, I was so restless, I had to stand up or I'd lose my mind. I was gasping for air, my heart was beating harder than ever and as I stood up I felt as if my entire body became unnaturally light.

"I do not think this is working" I said, but I heard no sound coming out of my mouth. When I turned towards the Hermit Wizard, I saw him still holding the tip of his finger against my forehead. I looked down and realized my legs weren't there, or at least not where I was "standing"neither was the rest of my body. I felt lighter, and I was still able to feel my body, It was almost as if I my soul was inside a different body while mine was resting in front of me. "Now, try reaching for your knife." said the Hermit.

I "reached" where I felt my knife. I felt as if it was there, strapped to my waist. I could feel the handle just out of its holster. I looked down but yet again, there was nothing but the dirt floor of the Wizards Cavern.

"Are you able to see me?" I tried asking even though no sound came out from my "mouth". "As long as I remain next to you I can 'hear' your thoughts. You are now in a different plane of existence that overlaps with ours." He snapped his finger and the the door that lead into this room started filling up with fog. "You have about half an hour before the time runs out and you snap back into your physical body, now go. Traverse the fog and it will take you to the door closest to your target."

I silently walked across the fog. The dirt floor suddenly turned into hardwood as I stepped into a spacious round room with a high ceiling, from the windows I saw that I was now in one of the towers of Windfield Castle. The room was completely dark, with only the light of the full moon illuminating it. In the room was a desk with a few small cabinets and drawers, a closet and a bed big enough for a family of six to sleep in it. Laying in bed, snoring with his huge belly spilling out of his clothes, laid Lord Nasher.

I turned around to see if there was anyone else in the room. The fog through which I came in had faded, leaving the actual door to Lord Nasher's chamber in its place. I was alone, I could just end his life right then and there, but then I though: I have more more than enough time to look around and savor my revenge.

Above his headboard was a painting of him, younger, with a head full of hair and a few dozen pounds lighter. Next to him were a boy and a girl whom I assumed were his children. This struck me as odd, nobody new anything about Lord Nasher's family ever since he got crowned as Lord of Windfield. "I did not know you have a family..." I muttered.

I continued looking around, on top of his desk was a letter addressed to him, no signature, just a seal in the form of a snake eating its tail at the bottom of the page. The letter read: "Lord of Windfield, your contributions have been dully noted and trust us you will have what is coming for you. The Grand Master expects you. Be on time."

I couldn't tell who this "Grand Master" is or what the meeting could be about. At the time I thought to myself that it was nothing more than a dirty politician making deals with underworld entities, like everyone else.

I opened his closet, underneath his clothes was a small wooden box that contained a doll and a notebook. One of the pages read: "My dearest Erika, you have no idea how I miss you and your brother. It has been years since you left my side, yet I can still smell your perfume in your doll. My heart aches every night since you left and I can hardly fall asleep." I skipped a couple pages: "I have met with someone who may help me. Soon I shall meet my sweet little children again."

I then remembered the day my brother died. How my mother cried and how my father barely held his tears as he laid his son to rest. I, not having children myself could not imagine how painful it can be to burry you very flesh and blood. I could imagine that if someone promised me a way to bring my child back from the dead I would do what it takes to make that a reality.

I turned towards Lord Nasher, had lived through the loss of not one but two of his children and continued to mourn them to this day. If he knew what that felt like, why did he do it then? Why did he bring the same pain and suffering to my family?

As I asked myself these questions, a slender shadow had climbed in through the window brandishing a long knife. Someone had come to do my work for me. The assassin stealthily climbed down the window into the tower. It was like watching a ghost manifest in a dark cloud floating a cross the room and standing right next to Lord Nasher.

This was it, I had nothing to worry about, the man was about to be slain and I did not have to get my hands dirty, and luckily there was still enough time for me to make sure Nasher died before the spell ended. The Grand Master was going to be disappointed. Then I realized, this man, Nasher, did what he did because he was promised something by the Grand Master. He's just a pawn. "Having second thoughts I see." said the Hermit.

I ran across the room as I drew the dagger given to me by the Hermit. I sliced the assassin's back, they flinched and grunted in pain. They then turned around to only to face the door to Lord Nasher's chamber.

I Then grabbed a chair right in front of them and threw it in the assailant's direction. The commotion must have alerted the guards, because I started to hear footsteps coming from all directions approaching the door.

"Ah, guards!" Lord Nasher screamed in terror as he reached for his sword which was next to his bed while in a drunken stupor. The assailant retreated, they climbed out of the window and disappeared. The guards finally broke into the room trying to investigate.

As Lord Nasher barked orders at his guards, I felt my self being pulled by the waist back towards the door. I thought I was going to hit the wall but all I felt was the cold hard limestone table of the Hermit's cavern. I could hear the his fireplace crackling and I saw him sitting next to me still holding his finger to my forehead.

"I hope this was as good for you as it was for me" Said the Wizard as I incorporated my self on the table. "I hope you now realize, what your true objective is."