�Nothing back there.�

�Duh, go check what is back there for me, would you?� His ruse worked.

�Ok, ok�I tell you what back there. My sons. Two boys, with me on way to manhood.�

�Really?� Killian was quite impressed that not only did this small creature think that he could guard anything, but that he also knew some form of arcane arts. And had the audacity to ask to be set free.

But Killian remembered the doctrine of not only retribution, but mercy. M�dok�s two young sons walked into the room, in utter shock that their father had been captured, and some of his bodyguards killed. �Swear off all forms of sorcery,� he said to M�dok. M�dok showed reluctance. Killian pressed the issue. �Shenya, get me �THE KNIFE��. Shenya, remembering Killian�s penchant for playing tricks, played along.

�Do you mean THE SPECIAL KNIFE?�

�Yes, THE SPECIAL KNIFE�� Killian was trying his best not to laugh, all the while sounding as serious as he could. M�dok had no idea what was coming, and could only eek out a small, insignificant reply; �Please, not the knife for poor M�dok.�

Shenya quickly pulled out one of her multitude of plain, non-descript daggers, and handed it to Killian. Killian made a great effort of dunking the knife into his small canteen of water, all the while explaining to M�dok that this was a very �special� poison that would quickly react to any arcane activities if M�dok tried to cast a spell ever again. Killian quickly stabbed M�dok in his ribs, leaving only a small nick in the kobold. But to M�dok, it was a branding nothing short of a death sentence.