Preface

Hey, you know what happens when the internet connection at the office goes down over the weekend? Jack diddly, which means we get two of our four 12-hour shifts completely unconnected, which means even though *I had this written in time for Friday*, I couldn't post it until today. Grr.

The quest ended as it had begun, in a dusty, disused room in the bottom of a library.

"At last," Cal whispered, lifting the book from the stone sarcophagus that had contained it. "At last I will know." He brushed his hand across the embossed cover, curiously warm. "I'll know what this has all been about. My life until now will finally have meaning." He opened the cover. His expression froze.

The frontispiece was a map of the library and its grounds. Cal's route inside was clearly marked. Below, in faded script, were the words: "This is where it begins."

Green Skin Shows No Scars

The pure white horse galloped away, bearing two humans on its back with easy grace. Grunk watched the shining wings spread out; when the horse took off, it left a rainbow of sparkling light behind.

Behind Grunk, the last tower of the dark castle crumbled away and thundered into the ravine. It probably hadn't been a very good home, but it was the only home Grunk had. The warriors - the ones that were left - screamed and rushed around in a violent panic. Nobody cared about the cooks anymore.

Grunk fingered his sharp butcher knife and watched the rainbow slowly fade.