The sorcerer nudged the smoking corpse of Megwen with his boot. Noticing a glint of silver, he knelt beside the body and reached out with a gloved hand. With a sharp tug, the black-robed sorcerer pulled Megwen's silver medallion from his neck and examined it briefly. The pendant still carried enchantments, and might yet be of some value. He tucked it into his pocket before standing. With a flick of his finger, the sorcerer beckoned to three of his largest trolls, who stood guard at his back, and followed him whenever he went abroad. They crossed the ruined remains of the Great Hall.

Oracus the merchant turned to see his erstwhile ally. The half-orc's face darkened into a scowl at the sight of the three, hulking monsters. "Wizard, where have you been?"

"You forget your place, Oracus," hissed the sorcerer. Behind him, the three trolls snarled menacingly.

The half-orc merchant paled, but quickly regained his composure. He, too, had swords at his back, but unlike the foreign sorcerer, Oracus' men were mere flesh and blood. "Yes, Lord Morkawn," he said. "You're right. You did a fine job on killing the Dark Lady's wizard pet there. Without your help, it might have taken my men a few minutes longer."

"Without my spells and my trolls," Morkawn said, "your thugs would never have made it through the front gates. But in answer to your question, I have been searching the lower halls."

"Bah," Oracus snapped. "My men have already combed the manor from top to bottom. Including the guild halls underneath. Perhaps you forget, I was once a member here."

"Still, I felt it wise to conduct my own search, using my own...methods."

"And did you find what you were looking for?"

Lord Morkawn was silent for a moment, struggling to contain his anger. "No," he hissed at last. "That which I seek is no longer on the grounds."

"Well, it must have gone out through the tunnels. We've killed most of the defenders. Those who are still alive have agreed to join my guild- since their old one no longer exists. But there's no doubt about it, now. The Dark Lady has somehow managed to escape- and she's probably got your-"

Morkawn raised a hand in warning.

"Trinket," Oracus said. "But I wouldn't worry, my lord. I know right where those tunnels come out- outside the city walls- and I've got some of my lads there, guarding the place. When the survivors finally show themselves, we'll be waiting."

"Have you sent men into the tunnels after them?"

The half-orc fidgeted. "No, can't spare 'em, but I do have the tunnel entrance watched, now."

The black-cloaked wizard thought for a moment. "Perhaps there is something I can do, to flush out our quarry a little faster."

Oracus raised an eyebrow. "I don't think those trolls of yours will be much use in the sewers. The passageways are said to be narrow."

"It was not trolls I had in mind."

"Some lads of your own, perhaps? Foreign fighters might go, but if it's some local toughs you've hired on the side, I doubt it. No Culharvener in his right mind would go down in those tunnels."

"You might be content to wait for your prize," Morkawn snarled, "but I am not. I have waited far too long already. I will not risk everything because you humans are too afraid to venture into a dark place." The foreign sorcerer rubbed his hands together. "But it is neither humans nor trolls that I plan to send."

Oracus thought it better not to ask. He had already achieved his main goal- the destruction of his rival's guild. Whether he actually captured or killed the Dark Lady herself was merely icing on the cake. The sooner Lord Morkawn got what he was after, the sooner he could dissolve his temporary alliance with the outland heretic. "Suit yourself, Lord Morkawn. I'll have one of my men show you the secret entrance to the tunnels. In any case, it won't be long now."