Kilroy sat at his usual table nursing his usual pint of ale watching the bar maids as they pretended to flirt with the customers. Business was slow these days and brawls were almost rare but he stood watch over the inn non the less in case any of the girls needed help. The club by his side hadn't been needed in a good many moons and he was beginning to worry about his job. He wondered if Yolander would continue to need his services if business was this slow for long. He had enjoyed working for the old woman but the coin wasn't as rich as it used to be and he had to resort to other means to fill his purse. But the free food and board was still a luxury in this run down old town. And that he hoped to keep.<br/><br/>A sudden loss of breath and a tightening of his throat made his eyes wide with horror. His body was numb and his voice failed him. He watched in horror as every person in the room slowed down and even the flames of the candles on the tables began to slow down. Just as soon as it started it ended. And he gulped in life giving air. The room though was motionless. Kilroy looked around for what he knew would come. And it came at him as it threaded it's away between frozen statues.<br/><br/>The hooded figure sat down opposite Kilroy.<br/><br/>"Greetings, oh Gray one!" whispered Kilroy as he bowed reverently. "What does the Dark Lord command of me?"<br/><br/>The figure hissed before human words formed in it's throat.<br/><br/>"Your Lord...and mine...commandsssss you to find a woman....." it hissed. "A woman of high born and rich blood in the guisessss of a ssssservant..." The figure didn't move as it spoke. "Our Lord wishesssss you to let ussss know when you have her in ssssight but act not on his behalf!" The figure extended a gloved hand. "Sssswear on our Lord'sss blood sssstone!" it commanded.<br/><br/>Kilroy fell to his knees and bent to kiss the ring with a red ruby on it.<br/><br/>The figure stood up and turned swiftly and was gone out the door in a blink. Kilroy blinked twice more as the room came back to life.<br/><br/>He would obey. For he knew better than to deny the Dark Lord's wishes and specially knew better than to lie to the Dark Lord's personal guards who dressed in Gray.<br/><br/>He would obey and he would be rich, he thought. The Lord always rewarded those who obeyed. He fingered his bunging pouch and smiled. He had in the past.<br/>