Years Later

Zangard stirred from his hibernation, he rolled one way, then the other, feeling stiff as a statue. It took a while to sit up.

He cracked his neck, then both shoulders, both elbows and both knees. Every slight movement he made **** another crack. He’d no idea how long he’d laid in this cell, but his guess was many, many years.

A dull blue light stung his eyes, forcing him to tears. There was an elven flare in the centre of his cell.

“Who goes there?” he croaked.

“I- I didn’t mean any harm.” It was a woman’s voice. A young lady.

She was hard to see as his eyes adjusted to the light. She was slender, the colour of her hair and skin was still hard to make out.

“What are you doing here?” he asked.

“I was just looking around. What is this place?”

Zangard didn’t use his magic, not right away. It felt like it might be nice to wait a little. Maybe he’d use it later, if her needed to. “Your guess is as good as mine.”

The girl cautiously stepped closer, her features slowly becoming clearer in the dim blue light. She had striking emerald eyes and long, flowing white hair that shimmered in the strange illumination. She looked around his prison cell, seemingly a little confused. Behind her was a thin, elven rope that dangled from the ceiling.

The woman hesitated before speaking, as if unsure whether to trust him. "I... I was exploring the ruins above and stumbled upon a hidden passageway that led me down here. I never expected to find someone else trapped in these depths."

Zangard's mind raced with possibilities.

“So, what are you doing out here?” Zangard asked.

“I stumbled upon this place by accident,” she said, her voice soft but determined. “I never expected to find someone here.”

Zangard studied her carefully, sensing there was more to her than met the eye. “What’s your name?” he asked, curiosity lacing his words.

She hesitated for a moment before replying, “I am Elara. And who might you be?”

He knew it was a lie, he could get the truth right out of her with his magic, but he’d play along for now, just for the fun of it. “I am Zangard, formerly 2nd Mage of Octoton.”

“How come you’re trapped down here? If you’re a mage, can’t you use your magic to escape?”

Zangard merely smiled at her through the elven blue light. “Alas. I was foolish, and my magic doesn’t work like it used to.”

“So, you’re trapped down here?” Perhaps it clicked in her mind then, what this place really was.”

“I’m afraid so.”

“Well, I am sorry for disturbing you.”

“Not at all, it is nice to have the company. Perhaps we can play a game?”

“What sort of game?”

“A game of honesty, and deception.”

“That sounds like it could be fun.”

“Oh, it does, doesn’t it?”

“What are the rules?”

“It’s simple really. I ask you a question, for every lie you tell, I get to punish you later.”

“But how would you know if I’m lying?”

“Oh, I have my ways.”