Naraka looks up as Alex enters, knowing his arrival by the many mind messages from the guards. He wipes his mouth with a cloth napkin and puts it down on the table as he stands.

“Ah, yes, Alex,” he smiles. “You did well. You and Zared both are to be commended for your efforts. Though your attacks could have lasted longer.”

He watches Alex reach for a glass of wine on the table and quickly grabs his hand, pushing it away from the glass.

“Do not push your luck, elf!” his smile disappears and he looks back at Tamrissa. “Go into the bed chamber and wait there until I call you.”

When she is safely inside, he looks back at Alex.

“Do not forget that you are not finished here yet. I want you to be here when the others arrive in the Umbra,” he steps over to the window and clasps his hands behind him. “I will cloak you with my illusion and you will be unrecognized. However, do not let your words give you away.”

He looks over his shoulder at the elf, now sitting in his chair and slumped down with a fool’s grin on his slender face.

“I am to be addressed as Master Naraka when around servants, guests and even her,” he points to the door to the bed chamber. “Keep civil words when you are around our guests. It will not do to have you acting like your cocky self. Remember it or your reward will be cut in the end.”

With a sigh, he turns around and walks back to the table.

“And your reward,” he stops near the table and purses his lips. “Your reward will not come in full until the very end. Today, I can only give you a taste of the power you crave. I will need all of Serumen’s power for the upcoming…occasion.”

He holds up a hand as Alex goes to get up, already growing angry and pointing his finger at Naraka.

“Sit down!” he growls. “I am prepared to make it up to you!”

His eyes bore into the elf until he sits down.

“You will get a good bit of the power, but it will only be a taste compared to what will come in the end,” he continues. “I also know your taste for wine and have made ready a good amount of your favorite. What is it? ‘Geek’, you call it? Anyway, it will be waiting for you in your rooms.”

He smiles and calls Tamrissa from the bedroom.

“And, to top it off, I offer you a night with the lady. That should compensate for the power I cannot give you.”

“My lord, please!” the woman pales and runs forward, clutching Naraka’s hand and falling to her knees in front of him.

“Get up, woman,” he looks disgusted as he pulls his hand away from her. “It is one night only.”

Her eyes go to Alex and then to the floor, as she stays on her knees.

“I’ll send her to you tonight. She will carry the power. One touch will be enough to transfer it from her to you,” he walks away to the door and opens it. “As for your beast, he will be fed well and taken care of. Then I have another mission for him, which I will speak to you tomorrow of."

He waits for Alex to leave, holding the door open.

"You are relieved of duty for now."