238 Inside The Emperor's Mind

Stalwart strode toward the dungeons below the keep. When he reached the room they'd prepared for Sam, he took a deep breath then pushed the door open. Sam, upon hearing the handle twist, ran to the corner of the room and curled into a ball. 

"Get away from me!" he screamed as soon as the mad wizard appeared before him. 

"Get up," Stalwart sharply ordered. "You're going home." 

Sam let out a nervous laugh, which came out as an unpleasant shriek. "I'm not falling for that again," he whispered, as though he was speaking to himself. "I'm not falling for that..." 

Stalwart whistled. "Hartwell's really played a number on you, son." 

He approached the young man and held him by the collar. Sam tried to wiggle out of Stalwart's grip, but he was too weak to put up any kind of fight. The mad wizard pulled the young man out of the cell then led him to a much bigger, slightly darker room.