Out

"What's that?" Sprat asked, squinting ahead.

"Oh my! I never thought I would see that again," said Cuthbert, awe in his voice.

"What's it daddy?" Sprat repeated. "It's too bright. 'M scared!"

"It's daylight son, real daylight."

The group marched steadily up the ever widening passage, until they stood, shielding their eyes, next to a small hummock in an area surrounded by trees.

As Dreth entered the clearing his stolen robes began to smolder and smoke. When the sun hit them they disintegrated entirely, leaving him standing in a pile of ash. Darkblood's new sheath remained strapped about him, obviously it was not of dark elf origin.

"Great," he said.

"Why is Uncle Dref not wearing anythink?" asked Sprat.

"It's a wardrobe malfunction," replied Cuthbert, not hiding a smirk very well.

"I can't go about like this," said Dreth. "I'm all exposed."

"I can see your liver," taunted Percy, pointing at the organ, which was regenerating amidst all the other usual internals.

"You can have a spare robe of mine," said Redthorne, hunting about in his pack and drawing out a red and blue garment. He passed it over to Dreth, who put it on.

"Mmm. Not really my color," he said critically.

"Look, we can't stand about here all day," the wizard said. "We had a deal. Hand over the baby and I'll tell you what I know. Unless you plan on reneging on our agreement?" He stepped back slightly and raised his staff.

"No no. I can't be bothered to take you on right now, and we need to be moving away from here. Tell me your information."

Redthorne looked at him for a moment, evaluating the situation. "Tell the zombie to stand next to me first," he replied.

"Cuthbert, take the baby over there," Dreth nodded.

Cuthbert muttered under his breath, but complied, moving to stand near the mage.

"Now wizard, speak!" demanded Dreth. "What do you know of my contract?"

"The Overlord has it," said Redthorne.

"The Management? In the Black Desert?" Percy asked.

"No, that's the Master of the Dungeon," said the wizard. "The Overlord is his master, and no doubt the ruler of other dungeons as well. I believe it works on some kind of franchise deal, from what I've heard from various sources."

"Interesting," said Dreth scratching his chin. "And where can we find this Overlord?"

"Ah. Well, I don't have a precise location for you. Most say that he lives in a large castle, somewhere over by the Dragon Forest. Others believe that he resides in the Ugly Swamp, to the north. However, these only rumors. I hear tell that the famed prophet, the Hermit of Farsii, knows the exact location."

"And where may we find this prophet?" asked Dreth.

"He's on the far side of the City of Real. In the hills somewhere."

"That's it? That's this 'valuable' information you've been boasting about?" said Dreth.

"It's more than you had before," he said. "I believe there's a village somewhere nearby here too." He shrugged. "Now, about the baby…"

Dreth looked at him for a moment, and Redthorne shifted his staff meaningfully. Finally though, Dreth nodded. "Give him the baby Cuthbert. We have no further use for either of them."

"Are you sure?" asked the zombie, hesitating.

"As much as it goes against the grain, yes. He's too powerful to deal with easily. I've enough on my plate as it is."

Reluctantly, Percy handed over the baby to Redthorne, who took it carefully with one hand, eyes never leaving Dreth.

Once the transfer was complete the wizard stepped back. "I would like to say it's been a pleasure knowing you Dreth, but that would be stretching the truth. However, for an evil murderer with no morals or conscience, you aren't a bad sort. I'm sure you'll understand if I say that I hope our paths never cross again. Farewell." With that, the mage raised his staff and uttered a powerful incantation. There was a flash of light, and the wizard and baby vanished.

"So much for that then," said Percy. "Hey! Who's he?" He pointed off into the trees.

There was a sudden movement. A young human boy popped up from behind a bush and ran into the undergrowth screaming.

"Wonderful, a witness," said Dreth.

"He looked tasty, shall we go after him?" Cuthbert asked.

The zombies looked at Dreth expectantly, who in turn looked at the evening sky.

"Come on! Fresh boy!" Said Percy. "Still kicking and everything."

Dreth practiced sighing, trying out his lungs, which were still not full regrown. "No. We need to get out of here. Besides, he probably belongs to someone, and if he goes missing we'd likely have a mob tracking us down."

He put his hand on Percy's shoulder. "Don't worry, I'm sure we'll run into plenty of victims. We're on the surface now after all."

The zombie's expression brightened, though this didn't make it any less horrific. "Well okay," he said.

"So, do we go straight to this Dragon forest then?" asked Emerald.

Dreth shook his head. "No, I think a trip to the prophet is a better bet. Even if this Overlord is in the forest, traveling elsewhere first may throw him off the scent, so to speak." He paused and looked around. "Of course, it would help if we knew where this city is. Ah well, one direction is as good as another for now I suppose. Which way do you think Percy?" he asked.

Percy considered for a moment, and then pointed off to their left. "I've a good feeling about that bearing," he said.

"Excellent," said Dreth. "After me then." So saying he set off in the opposite direction.

"Hey!" said Percy, who had started off in the way he'd indicated. "You're as bad as the living you are!" The zombie about faced and stumbled after his comrades, complaining all the while.