Author’s Note: Okay, I totally apologize for the lack of updates on this. My computer caught a Trojan virus, and had to be professionally fixed. Blasted viruses! But we got a Norton anti-virus, so there shouldn’t be a problem from now on. Thank you for waiting.

Chapter 5: Lord of the Tower

Orko was going to be sick.

An elf was strapped to a table in the center of the round room, wearing just a loincloth-type garment. Needles connected to tubes pierced his arms and hands, and a metal ring that reminded him sickeningly of the one in the Sorceress Queen’s tower was on his head, the tubes from it going up into the ceiling. The elf had his teeth gritted and his eyes shut tight, in obvious agony, but at last he couldn’t suppress another wail of pain. Standing by the table, watching with clear detachment with his back to Orko stood a seven-foot tall figure in full plate armor, ebony metal that reflected no light, the helm sporting two wicked horns of ivory.

“The pain will soon go away:” the standing figure said, in a voice that made Orko’s heart race in fear and want to cower far, far away, despite its velvet smooth feel. “Then you will know me as your Master.” The elf screamed again, only there was something of heartbreak in it this time, tears tracking down his face. The figure checked a tube, where a purplish liquid had begun to flow. “Ah. The final phase beings. Soon, soon you will wonder why you ever resisted the power I give. When we next meet, you will call me master.” Laughing triumphantly, he vanished in a swirl of black smoke.

Orko didn’t hesitate. He lunged forward, zipping to the table, pulling out needles and removing the helmet. The elf instantly collapsed against the metal slab, exhausted from his ordeal. The tips of his fingers and toes were blackened, as if from frostbite, but Orko severely doubted that was the case.

“Can you walk?” asked softly. “C’mon. We have to get out of here, before he comes back.” The elf hauled himself off the table, and it seemed in Orko’s eyes that each movement hurt as bad as whatever that knight had been doing to him had hurt. They made their was down the stairs, the elf banging against the walls and stumbling badly. Several times Orko feared he’d fall right off the side, but somehow they made it out. There the elf collapsed to his knees, moaning. Orko pulled at his arm. “Trolly-molly, keep going!” Again the elf forced himself up, and they struggled into the woods surrounding the tower.

The woods were awful! It seemed as if the threes sprang to life as they fled, reaching down to grab at them and stop them. Orko felt his robes snag and get tangled up, and his hat was nearly snatched right off his head several times. The poor elf couldn’t help but bang into the trees in his staggering run, his hair - was it pale yellow, silver, or gray? - entangling in the limbs.

At last, the elf dropped to a sitting position in a small clearing, panting heavily and blood oozing from several scratches, not to mention the needle wounds.

“We have to keep moving,” the Trollan urged.

“Can’t,” the elf panted hoarsely, the first thing Orko had heard him say, and the tone of his voice nearly backed the wizard up: rough and otherworldly, almost two tones at once. “I can’t… too weak… the Venom of Terror… flooding me….” He groaned.

“I - I’ll go get help,” Orko offered. The elf smiled kindly, sadly.

“Thank you… I’d rather die… a Dream… than live… as a… Nightmare of his….” The defeated tone nearly broke Orko’s heart.

“Y - you keep quiet. I’ll be right back, with help.” He darted a bit away, dodging trees, with one idea. He would see if Natar could reach him, and if so have the dragon fly them to safety.

A few trees away, well within shouting distance, he pulled out the Twilight Dragon’s emerald.

“Na - “

“You didn’t think you’d get away with my elf that easily, did you?” interrupted a smooth, terrifying voice from behind. Orko gulped and turned slowly to see the knight from the tower towering over him. His face was black shadow, with two glowing red eyes peering out at him.

“Trolly-molly!” he yelped and backed away. The figure studied him, and then it seemed those red eyes smiled.

“A, yes… Orko the Great.”

“H - how - ? “

“Did I know your name?” He chuckled. “I know you. I know your deepest fears, the things and thoughts that awaken you screaming at night. Things you don’t tell even your best friends.” Orko, quite frightened, drew his wand.

“Stay back!”

“Your magic won’t work here,” was the easy reply. “So go ahead and try.” Orko casted and -

nothing.

“No!”

“Your Cube is dead as well.” Frantic, he pulled it out so see all the sides were black.

“No!”

“I am the only one who can send you home, Orko. And I’m willing to do so… if you do a little favor for me.”

“…What?” The knight laughed.

“Oh nothing big. I’m not going to ask you to kill anyone, oh no. I’ll even let that little pathetic elf go free, back to his home. All you have to do is find a certain girl and bring her to me. That’s all.”

“Then… you’ll send me home.”

“I swear before the Night and Darkness. Just bring her here.”

“Why do you want her?”

“That’s not your concern, now is it? Just do as I say, or you’ll never see your precious Eternia nor Adam or Teela ever again!” Orko hesitated for a moment, then straightened.

“Go jump in the Bottomless Hole!”

“What!”

“No deal. I’d rather never go home than hand some innocent girl over to you. And as for the elf - “ Orko moved to block the way. “ - Trolly-molly, you’ll have to get through me first!” As he finished speaking, Orko was surrounded in a white light, a brightness that backed the knight up.

“No, no!” was his denial. Then it seemed he looked past Orko for a moment, and utter hatred was reflected in his eyes. “Damn you! Damn you to the Eternal Oblivion for helping him! This isn’t over!”

And he vanished in a puff of smoke.