"The incident at Baron Gorim's keep," Agael recounted, referring to the murder in which the elven girl was involved. "That was a dreadful affair to be sure." The killing one of Lord Octa's vassals was unprecedented and surely unforgivable. Agael fully expected the dark lord to lay his hand upon Assallya and devour her life essence at that very moment. But something stayed the master's hand. Agael had a suspicion that it might have been [i]desperation[/i].

"So it was," Lord Octa dismissed, keeping his glassy white eyes fixed upon Assallya. "Gorim will be replaced easily enough. But as for this... [color=black][b]revolt[/b][/color]," Lord Octa's incorporeal voice boomed through the Court once more, galvanizing the undead souls hanging from the ceiling to shift and moan. "I shall not tolerate it."

"You shall accompany the Dread Knight Vatikar, and assist him in searching for this missing prisoner. For I suspect that wherever she is, the remainder of the insurrectionists will be found there as well."

"Sir Vatikar?" Agael asked. "Far be it from me to question your judgement, majesty. But do you trust him with such a quest? After what happened last time?"

"Vatikar knows full well that were it not for his prowess on the battlefield, he would have joined the Court in Zula's place. He knows the gravity of his error, and he is sufficiently motivated. He will bring me this missing prisoner and those who have stolen her from me. And unlike Zula, they shall come to me alive."

"Send the rest of this lot to the dungeons. I will consume their life essence at a more appropriate time. But escort the elf and see that she is fitted adequately for this quest." With that, the two dread knights parted ways - one dragged the shackled prisoners to the dungeons, and the other took Assallya back out of the Court.

"When you inform Vatikar as to my orders," Lord Octa said to his robed lackey when the prisoners were well out of earshot. "Tell him that once he has located my missing prisoner, he may dispose of the she-elf however he sees fit."

"As you wish, your majesty. I have no doubt he will [i]relish[/i] such an opportunity."

"So he may," Lord Octa agreed. "What is important is that the elf must not be allowed to live at the end of this. A crime against my vassals is a crime against [i]me[/i], and I shall tolerate no crime."