Each floor in the tower was a large circular chamber with a winding stone staircase running along the sides. The specters led the group to the fourth floor, where they stopped and hovered in the air barring the group from continuing on the stairwell. Shaymus attempted to climb further, but the specters glowed an ominous red as she got closer. They raised their skeletal hands threateningly.

“I don’t think you should go that way,” Nulrok observed.

Gilreg looked around the chamber. It was wide with chiseled rectangular stone blocks for the floors and the walls. They were smooth and looked to be old. They were a dark bluish-grey in color. The stairs were on the east side of the chamber, where they climbed along the wall and disappeared into the next floor. The ceiling was high. Gilreg knew that the tower was rather large, and he guessed there were at least 12 floors, maybe 13. There were precisely five rolled-out bed mats and blankets on the floor. The other furniture included a wooden table with chairs. In the center of the table was a bowl of shiny fruit. Along the west wall were several bookshelves. Other than that, the chamber was quite bare. The group helped themselves to the fruit and discovered them to be sweet and juicy.

Raine and Nulrok went over to look at the bookshelves. There were soft chairs along the walls for them to sit and read. The two found books of interest and made themselves comfortable. Shaymus attempted to sneak past the specters but discovered they were quite observant. But she didn’t give up trying.

Ever restless, Gilreg and Booger began to practice sparring in the expansive open center of the chamber. Gilreg found the orc challenging with their large polearm, which the prince maneuvered with ease and skill. In one exchange, the orc stabbed their weapon at the goblin warrior. Swiftly, Gilreg ducked and deflected the attack to the side with his shield. The warrior countered by striking low at the prince’s armored shins. Gilreg’s sword thudded harmlessly on the metal, and the orc released one grip from his weapon to grab the goblin by the shoulder. Twisting, he kicked out Gilreg’s leg and sent the warrior spinning and falling onto his side.

“I had a clean hit!” Gilreg exclaimed as he rose to his feet.

“So?”

“If this were a real fight, you would have been seriously injured.”

“Hah. Unless there is a magic blade that can cut through steel, your attack was harmless,” the orc said, knocking on his steel greaves to make a point.

“You shouldn’t block attacks that way in case you do encounter someone with such a blade,” the goblin warrior said.

Prince Booger heartily laughed. “I’ve fought more adventurers than you can count, little goblin. With all types of weapons, such as flaming swords and electrical spears. None of them got past my defenses.” The orc said.

The goblin thought for a moment and then swapped his sword for his axe. Axe and shield in hand, the goblin rechallenged the orc for a second bout. The orc grinned a large tusked-filled grin and made ready. The two circled, and after a few exchanges, the same situation appeared. The orc lunged, and Gilreg ducked low, deflecting the spear high with his shield. The goblin swung his axe toward the orc’s armored legs, but instead of going for a cut, the goblin hooked the axe blade behind the orc’s ankle. This threw the large prince off balance, and Gilreg punched forward with the edge of his shield. Utilizing a basic wrestling concept of push and pull to throw an opponent to the ground. The smaller goblin was able to knock Booger flat on their back. Following up rapidly, as the orc struggled to rise up, Gilreg knocked the polearm out of the orc’s hand with a shield bash and, with his other hand, brought the edge of his axe toward his opponent’s throat.

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“Very good! Now that can work against an armored foe,” The orc cheered.

The two practiced again and rehearsed the takedown. Booger and Gilreg also practiced ways for the orc to counter such a takedown. Shaymus, being bored of the specters, joined in the sparring sessions.

“You little buggers are fast!” The orc exclaimed as he lumbered to chase after Shaymus as she nimbly dodged and evaded his attacks.

Everyone stopped when they saw Chalal Von Issen climb down the stairs. The specters parted for him.

“I trust you all made yourselves comfortable. If you need more food or wine, just let me know,” the necromancer said, clasping his long-fingered hands together.

“Wine!” Shaymus demanded.

“And some meat would be nice. We thank you,” the orc prince said and bowed. Sweat from his forehead dripped to the floor.

“At once,” the mage said and nodded to a specter.

It flew off up the stairs. In moments it returned, followed by several zombies that carried trays of meat and jugs of wine. Or were they ghouls? Vampires? Gilreg couldn’t tell. The meat smelled delicious if not a little cold. The orc didn’t care and didn’t even wonder where the meat came from. He ate voraciously. The others followed suit, picking the meat with their hands from the platters.

“Are we free to leave?” Raine asked.

“Of course,” the necromancer answered coolly.

“Why are the specters guarding the stairs?” She asked.

“Upstairs are my personal chambers. Quite dangerous for the non-magically inclined. However, if you notice, you can climb downstairs if you’d like. That is the exit. But I do ask that you stay the night and dine with me.”

Raine glowered with her arms crossed. The others nodded with their mouths full of wine and meat.

Chalal raised an eyebrow and pointed to the book in Raine’s hand. “I see that you are enjoying my library. I have more if you’d like. I am an avid collector.”

Raine looked conflicted, but the idea of reading books and visiting an actual library was appealing. She simply nodded.

“Wonderful!” The necromancer said with a wide grin. He produced a metal key from his dark robes and handed it to Raine.

“This is the key to my library. It is down one floor behind the oaken door. You have full access to it. I trust you will be respectful,” Chalal said and turned to Nulrok.

“Now, my fellow practitioner of the art. If you would accompany me upstairs. I can show you the basics of necromancy,”

Nulrok nodded and followed the mage. Gilreg placed a hand on his shoulder. The mage paused, and the warrior saw the excitement in his friend’s eyes. He took a deep breath and told Nulrok to be careful. The mage nodded and followed Chalal up the stairs.