Rana Kane: Yeah, it really is! You can feel sorry for Hank, always trying but it's often in vain :(
um, well, that's right, since Eric wasn't too pleased about Hank's decision. Obviously, he can't! And the trouble is already there...
Thanks for your comment, by the way

D.B. Cooper: Thank you very much!

4.

In the meantime, Venger has arrived in one of his castles.

Apart from a few Orc guards the castle was eerie empty.

When the guards caught sight of their lord with his captive, they greeted him.

"Welcome back, Master. As I see, you were successful." one of the Orcs grunted to Venger and gestured with a nod at the light bubble, which was floating patiently a few inches over the ground beside Venger.

"Yes, it looks like I finally could defeat the Young Ones this time for sure."
Then Venger turned to Bobby, who still was encased in the bubble.
"So, now I am going to let you out of the bubble.
But I advise you to raise no trouble since my guards would love to get ahold of one of Dungeon Master's Pupils.
They just tend to violence and they also won't make any exceptions to children..."

With a movement of the hand he conjured up a cage around the bubble.
When Venger snapped his fingers, the bubble suddenly vanished and Bobby plopped ungentle onto the bottom of the cage.
But besides a soft moan, he didn't utter another sound.

And even when Venger took away his Club with the words "This belongs to me now!", Bobby didn't complain and also didn't try to defend it or to get it back, as he definitely would have done under normal circumstances.

Instead of that, he wordlessly crouched into a corner and only winced, when the door of the cage was slammed shut.

Venger didn't pay attention to him but held the magically glowing Club in his hands, very pleased.
"Finally. The Barbarian's Club. Now I have got at least one of the magic weapons... and the others soon will belong to me as well!"

Venger looked towards his prisoner, expecting a fierce protest of the boy, but he didn't move.

"Well, well, well, why being so uncommunicative?
Have you suddenly lost your tongue, small Barbarian?
What's the matter with you?
No swearing, no ridiculous threats, which are only supposed to cover up your fear of me?
Not even the claim that your sister and your friends will soon come to free you and then take revenge on me?
Do you give up your beloved Club completely without a struggle? Unbelievable!" Venger watched the youngest of his enemies, honestly surprised.

There his loyal servant Shadow Demon approached and whispered something into Venger's ear.

Venger's expression changed from astonishment to an evil grin.

"Ah, I see! Very interesting. That explains everything! You have tasted the delicious fruits from the 'Tree of Sadness', haven't you?"

As to confirm Venger's guess, Bobby just then lifted his head and looked at Venger with sad eyes.

"Marvelous! This works much better than I thought.
Even if I haven't had success to defeat you up to now, you're already doing that all by yourself.
You even manage it - of course quite unintended - to kill each other.
And you were just the beginning in the course of this, Young One. You've helped me with your foolish deed to get my victory over you and your friends, you know that?
You will set off an avalanche with your death, which will bury you at first and then your friends and eliminate you all for good.
Now they only have to take very long until they'll turn up here, because it hopefully will already be too late for your rescue then.
However, I don't mind if they're here when your end is finally near.
No, come to think of it.
In fact, they must be here already.
I want them to watch you dying, without being able to help you any more. And then I will delight in their desperation about it and also put a slow and painful end to their lives; one by one..." Venger laughed venomously.

Bobby winced once more and averted his gaze.

Even though Bobby didn't say anything, Venger, however, sensed that the boy - in spite of his rather apathetic, disinterested state of mind - has heard every word and also understood them very well and was close to tears for this reason.

With one last sneer at the young Barbarian, Venger turned around towards the Orcs, "Keep a very close eye on him! Just in case. Although I think that he won't do an attempt to escape in his current condition.
You'll be sorry if my seizable triumph will be destroyed again due to some of your inadvertences!"

The addressed guards exchanged meaningful glances and gave Venger a nod. "As you wish, Master!"

Then Venger vanished - halfway contented - and left Bobby behind with his guards.