Excerpt, "Sapphire Crucible"

The man spoke with a voice that was both amplified and at a screeching pitch. "Word has reached me that my prisoners have arrived. You did not inform me as I had ordered. WHY?" The walls shook from his voice.

Hugon crawled forward with his belly impeding his progress. "Great Necromancer, we received no orders telling us to inform you."

Necromancer grew enraged at the statement. "Do not lie to me, Vile Vermin." He held out his palm. A wind blew through the room and gathered the ashes from the scroll. Drawing together in a vortex, it deposited the remains in his hand. With the soot in his possession he closed his fingers. The ash changed back into the scroll. Opening the parchment he read it to himself. "I seem to have found the orders," he said as he dropped them in front of Hugon. The Jailor did not move.

Without notice Necromancer reached out one hand and unleashed a plume of fire the like of which no one but a Lava Giant had ever seen. The flame poured over the quivering bodies on one side of the room. The entire area was enveloped in liquid flame. After a few short moments, he pulled his hand back and the fire withdrew back to his palm. All the goblins on that side of the room were gone. No trace was left to show they’d ever existed. The elves had been in that area as well, but they were unscathed. Their skin had not even risen in temperature.

Just by lifting one forefinger, Necromancer surrounded Hugon in a shell of magic, which was nearly invisible. It lifted him off the ground. With a shift of his finger Necromancer sent him flying across the room until he collided with the wall of the tower. Then he soared across to the far side and again struck the wall. The process was repeated several times before Necromancer deposited the massive goblin where he’d previously lain.

Necromancer walked forward and stopped just short of Hugon’s face. The Great Goblin immediately tried to kiss his feet. Repulsed by the action, Necromancer stepped back. Then he spoke. "Were my orders unclear?"

"No," answered Hugon.

"Then I must assume you chose to ignore them. Is that right?"

"Yes," answered the timid Hugon.

Necromancer placed his hands behind his back and paced before the goblin. "Did you know any of the goblins I just eradicated?"

"Yes"

"Were you friends with any of them?"

"Yes," answered Hugon.

"Perhaps you wish to join them in the Hereafter?" Hugon simply shook his head. Necromancer stopped walking. "Then consider this your only warning. If you ever disobey me again there will not be enough dust left from your body to bury." Then he turned his attention to the remaining goblins. "Just to make sure this refuse does not choose to test me, if he disobeys me you will all share in his fate. If he cannot follow orders for himself, perhaps he will for you."

"Now, where are the prisoners’ possessions" he asked in a normal tone of voice. Several of the goblins ran outside and pulled the cart with the items to the door. Necromancer approached the cart and sifted through the materials. His face lit up with a wicked smile as he produced the gold chain and key Linvin had been wearing. He discarded the chain and placed the key in the folds of his robe. "Take the rest of this lot to the top floor storage area."

"Lord Necromancer," asked Hugon. "Should I inform Lord Mandrean of the prisoners’ arrival? They are his captives after all."

"No need to bother him," Necromancer replied. "I will tell him when the time his right. For now they are my prisoners and you would do well to remember that."