Graham shook awake as he was thrown down onto the wet, jagged floor. His head pounded, and his mind swirled as the old man tried to stand up, but he fell down once again. His hands stung against the sharp rocks.

Memories flashed of the White Hand and their Spire. His old companions and masters were mercilessly slayed as Graham looked on, unable to act. Astrid taking aim at Gloria. Graham summoning every bit of strength he had to block her finishing blow.

"W-what happened?" Graham cried out from all fours. "What was that dream? That horrible, terrible dream.”

Astrid laughed as a chorus of others joined in around her. The old man looked to see dark mages dressed in the red robes of the White Hand. Several goblins sneered and gnashed their needle-like teeth. Finally, he saw Astrid flanked by the two skull figures.

The space came into focus for Graham. The cave was open at this dead-end juncture. All around him there were chains and cages. They were all empty. The only chains that held down a living figure were his own. They clinked as he looked around at the faces that mocked him.

Astrid stepped forward to him with a smirk on her face. That same confidence she held in the forest exuded form her. She planted an ancient staff into the ground. Red light beamed from the pyramid artifact that was fixed upon its top.

"That was no dream, was it?" He sobbed, broken and filled with horror.

“No, it was not, old man," Astrid answered him. "You should have joined me willingly. And saving Gloria from her deserved fate was not something you should have done, Farnuk!”

The goblin man came up sheepishly behind her. Fear rattled the creature’s bones and made his skin crawl in the presence of the dark mages. Graham looked upon the greenish-grey-skinned figure curiously. To the old man, it seemed that Farnuk was regretting his decision to betray the defenders.

“Y-yes,” he stuttered.

The woman shook her head, “You disappointed me. All you slimes disappointed me!”

She whipped around and slammed the butt of the staff into the ground. It made a loud crack and flashed a red light. All of the goblins cowered before her as she stood there, seething. Even the traitorous mages seemed uneasy at her temper.

“But, my dear Farnuk, you have the chance to redeem yourself. In turn, you may redeem your kind in my eyes. More importantly, you may redeem yourself to my master,” the woman put her hand on the creature's forehead, and he shuddered at the touch.

“W-what would you have me do?” Farnuk quivered.

One of the skull figures threw a crude knife at the ground. It clanged as it fell at his feet. After the ring of metal, all was dead silent.

Graham’s heart dropped and stomach twisted. Farnuk looked at the old man with pity and shame. Most of all, he looked reluctant to carry the task laid out before him. He took a step back and shook his head.

Astrid smiled and nodded, “Yes, yes, you know what is commanded of you. It is not an order from me but from him.”

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Farnuk picked up the jagged blade and walked up to Graham. The old man did not plead for his life. He was broken and did not wish to fight it. He simply closed his eyes and bowed his head as he thought about his companions, who were now dead. All hope to stop this evil was gone. Even he was unable to shake its control when it commanded his mind. Finally, a tear fell as he thought about the ruin that the world was about to face.

The goblin raised the blade, and it shook in his hand. He tried to steady himself as he looked hard at Graham. He had killed before. What is one more to save his skin? He stepped forward, but could not swing, then he stepped again, and he again failed.

“Ah!” the creature yelled, and he fell to his knees with the blade still in his hand.

Graham slowly raised his head to look the goblin in the eyes. The old man’s grey eyes locked with Farnuk’s. When they first met, those green eyes had been filled with so much hate. Now, they welled with tears.

“I can’t do it,” the goblin yelled. “I can’t.”

“Pity,” Astrid said with a hollow tone.

Then, one of the skull figures stepped forward. It grabbed the knife, and in one swift move, it plunged it deep into the goblin’s chest.

The rest of the green creatures cowered and snarled at the sight. Farnuk twisted and gurgled on the wet, stone floor until he finally went silent. Everyone looked on at the robin, then at Astrid who stared at Graham.

“Any failure is seen as disobedience, and disobedience will be punished by death,” Astrid said dryly.

She continued to start at Graham carefully as she was assessing his fate. The kuinan scrunched her face, and she tilted her head in thought.

“I supposed one death was enough. Besides, you might be useful to us yet,” she said as she turned around.

The goblins and mages followed her down a tunnel as Graham stared at Farnuk. Even though he betrayed the Defenders of Sol, the old man looked at him with tears in his eyes. Most of all, he pitied the creature.

As he stared, he heard a whimper. The old man shifted and noticed the shadow of a figure that remained. It was shivering with fear as it stared at Farnuk. Graham raised his head to see Farnuk.

"I told him we should have stayed out of this mess," she said as she clenched her jaw. “No good comes from our folk getting caught up with a wielder of magic. That is what I said.”

Graham looked at her silently. She cried softly. After a time, her sorrow turned. Anger bubbled up in the goblin's heart. She stomped her foot and grunted.

"You didn't deserve this," she said to Graham as she softened a bit. "I wish we hadn't done what we did."

Graham shrugged as he leaned back against the cold stone wall. The cold was soothing to him as he closed his eyes and let out a breath.

"What is done is done," he said calmly.

"You ain't angry?" the goblin asked. "I would be furious if half of what happened to you happened to me. I would make them pay.”

"Being angry will not change a thing, Karnuk. I am still here, held captive. Clearly, I have no power to keep even my own mind in check. All I can do is hold out for a miracle or my end," the old man said as he closed his eyes.

The goblin woman stared at him curiously. Guilt welled in her as she looked at the man who had seemed so powerful when he first captured her and her husband. His order had laid waste to their outpost and saved their hostages with little issue. Now, he seemed an old, shriveled man who was ready to die.

"Ey, Karnuk!" a harsh voice came from the tunnel behind her. "Quit fraternizing with the enemy. Get in here and pull your weight!"

She was reluctant to go at first. Graham opened his eyes and looked at her. It seemed as if she was trying to think of a way to help the old wizard. She gritted her teeth and scanned the cave walls.

"I will not give the order again," the voice called. "You can join him if you keep acting up. Otherwise, I will have your head of a spike.”

Then, Farnuk bowed her head, and she was off to the tunnel. Graham saw her slowly disappear into the tunnel that was dimly lit by torches. Through that way, Graham could hear the clinking and breaking of rocks.