Prologue- Darkness

It is midnight and The Grand Master is sitting in his small cell wondering how his pet, General Flopsy is doing. He misses his old companion even more than he misses his ceremonial robe. He hears someone talking outside his door, "Leah Retsam has been released with a fine; she has been inside for eight years and with her grandfather in prison there isn't much that she can do". The Grand Master fumes silently. He is proud of his Granddaughter and doesn't like to hear her being insulted. Just then he hears a tip tapping at his dark barred window. Suddenly but silently a big hole is blasted in the wall. Cautiously he looks out of it and smiles in relief "about time" he whispers, and then climbs out. Before very long he is down a precariously positioned waiting ladder into the night's darkness...