“Who goes there?” snorted the minotaur in a grizzly, booming voice, pointing his hammer to the edge of the tunnel where Friedrich, Marina and Blackjack stood.

“We did not mean to intrude,” said Friedrich, trying to think quickly. “We presumed that this place was long-abandoned.”

“You thought wrong,” said the minotaur, lowering his hammer. “You should not be here in my domain.”

“Sincerest apologies.”

The minotaur shook his head and snorted. “What is it that you sought?” he asked.

“We are heading towards Akatfall. We merely wanted to pass through here, thinking it would make our time on the road above shorter. Is there a way to leave so that we do not disturb you further?”

“There is,” said the minotaur, turning his back on the three and slumping back towards his tools. He picked up the sword he had been working on. He placed the blade inside the hot furnace and waited without saying a word.

“Should we leave?” asked Marina, looking concerned, but Friedrich had already walked up to the minotaur even though Blackjack had tried to hold him back.

“Will you tell us the way out?” Friedrich asked him.

“If you’re such intrepid explorers, you will find it on your own. I simply wish to remain undisturbed while I finish my work.”

Friedrich was curious and the beastman did not appear to be hostile, so he decided he could get away with prying. “What are you working on?”

“A sword.”

“I can see that, but I meant…what does it do?”

“It cuts, it stabs…for a lad like you to have a sword of his own and to ask such a foolish question is astounding to me.”

Friedrich was frustrated by the obtuse response. “I’m asking what makes it special? Is it enchanted?”

“Now that is a much more sensible question,” replied the minotaur. “No, it is not enchanted, but it will be. What makes my weapons special is that I mix the iron with nether ore.”

“What’s that?” asked Friedrich.

“Nether ore?” asked Blackjack, finally daring to approach. “Where is it that you find nether ore?”

“Nether ore,” said the minotaur, his bovine eyes staring at Friedrich and ignoring Blackjack, “is a rare ore that can strengthen metal beyond almost anything found on Eradrel.”

“If it isn’t found on Eradrel,” said Friedrich, “then where do you find it?”

“He finds it in Nar’zularth,” said Blackjack, raising her voice, “the demonic plane of Kragvhum. Come, Friedrich. We should leave this place at once.”

“You are familiar with Nar’zularth?” the minotaur said to Blackjack. “Then perhaps you are not so stupid and may be able to assist me in acquiring more of it?”

“No, I will not assist you. It is a wicked plane of evil and nothing good can come of it.”

“I will make it worth your while if you do aid me. My treasures are magical and numerous, my riches are great and plentiful. You do not even need to venture between planes, for there is a cavern beneath us that can provide me with what I seek.”

Marina piped up. “If it’s in these very mines, then why have you not sought it yourself? Or better yet, make the kobolds above do it.”

The minotaur scoffed. “Kobolds? Kobolds cannot fasten a tunic.

“Because it’s dangerous, isn’t that right?” asked Friedrich.

“Of course,” said the minotaur. “I make no secret of that. The danger is great, but your foe is conquerable. I will not aid you personally as even as much as an injury to my hands will render me unable to continue smithing. Without that, I have nothing.”

“What treasures are you offering us?” asked Friedrich.

“Friedrich,” said Blackjack sternly, “you do not have much interest in listening to me, I am aware, but I ask you to proceed cautiously.”

“I will hear him out before I make any decisions,” said Friedrich. “What is your name, blacksmith?”

A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

“Myraeon,” said the minotaur.

“My name is Friedrich, and these two are Marina and Blackjack.”

“You will forgive me, but I have no interest in your names. All I am interested in is your ability to aid me.”

“Then tell us what your offer is, Myraeon.”

“Very well,” said Myraeon, his eyes glancing at the golden fox mask around Friedrich’s neck which had started to twinkle with its turquoise aura once again. He then stared at Marina’s wooden staff, before fixing his eyes upon Blackjack’s bow.

Myraeon nodded slowly and then walked over to a large trunk sitting a few feet away beside one of the wooden shacks. He opened it up and rummaged through it, picking out a handful of things before returning to the party of three and setting what he had selected upon a workbench.

Friedrich, Marina and Blackjack were astounded by what sat before them. There was a bundle of ten arrows, all much sturdier than what Blackjack currently used. They had a silver shaft and an orange tip, while the feathers were so fiery and golden that they could have come from the tail of a phoenix.

Beside the arrows, lay a sparkling purple amethyst. Even in the dim light, there was almost a glow to it. The inside of the amethyst crackled and fizzled with lightning that flashed intermittently. It was beckoning to Marina, who was enchanted by it. The most unexpected item of all, however, was the last item.

“A mask?” asked Friedrich, moving his hand to touch it, but Myraeon grabbed his wrist.

The wooden mask was in the shape of a bull’s head, complete with horns. It was painted black with wispy orange lines twirling across its cheeks with a larger orange X upon its nose. Embedded on the mask’s forehead was a familiar-looking gemstone of turquoise. It twinkled and granted the mask the same familiar aura that the golden fox mask did.

“It is not yours until you do as I have asked,” said Myraeon.

“It is what I think it is, isn’t it?” asked Friedrich.

“A soul mask,” said Myraeon, nodding. “I do not know the soul that dwells within, but the mask came into my possession many years ago. I would not dare put it on, but I am content to part with it. All you must do is defeat the beast known as Balgreuh and it will be yours.

“Balgreuh?” asked Friedrich, not liking the sound of the name, but he wanted the mask.

“Yes. He sleeps below, but to appear before him is to awaken him. You will not be the first, but I hope that you will be the last.”

Friedrich turned to Blackjack who was staring at him carefully. Their eyes locked until the high elf blinked and shook her head.

“We will do it,” she said.

“If you do not want to, I will walk away,” said Friedrich, sensing that the magical arrows had tempted her. He did not want to leave, greatly desiring the mask, but he had dragged his companions far enough.

“We will do it,” she repeated.

“Marina?” asked Friedrich.

“I want the lightning gem,” she said with a shrug. “Kupons are one thing, but these items may keep us alive if we end up in a pinch.”

“Dare you fill your purses full…” muttered Blackjack.

“Or shall you awaken the mighty bull…” said Friedrich.

“Elketh knew what was down here, didn’t he?” asked Marina.

“It certainly sounds like it,” said Friedrich. “He’s an odd man, but there’s a lot more to him than meets the eye.”

“Odd is when someone picks their nose in public and wipes it on their tunic,” said Marina. “He gives eccentric a new meaning.”

Friedrich turned to Myraeon. “How do we reach Balgreuh and how do we kill him?”

“I will show you,” said the minotaur, walking to the far side of the cavern and beckoning the three to follow him, which they did.

“Will you permit me to take the arrows to bolster our chances of success?” asked Blackjack.

“I have no guarantee that you will not abscond with them. No, you cannot take them until you fulfil your end of the bargain.”

Friedrich had not asked as he presumed as much. “That’s fair,” he said, although he would have felt much better if he was better prepared.

“And you will not fight with us?” asked Blackjack. “You are physically strong, that much is obvious.”

Myraeon shook his horned head. “No. For I value my life too much.”

Those words sent a chill down Friedrich’s spine and he shivered. The young man did not fear danger, but for something to strike such fear into the minotaur was not something he was sure he wanted to face. Although, the lure of the mask was too great. It was almost calling to him, asking him to grant it freedom outside of this mine.

Myraeon led them down into a small pit at the back side of the cavern, where another tunnel sat within the wall. The group proceeded into it, following the various twists and turns that Myraeon guided them along. It was tighter and more humid than ever down here, everyone having lost track of just how deep they must have been. It was truly stifling, but they knew that if they wanted the spoils of this adventure, then they had to do what Myraeon had asked.

“Now we know your price,” Friedrich said to Blackjack with a sly grin. “Just bribe you with something you can use to kill a demon.”

“Yes,” she said, “but it is still more expensive than your price.”

“You don’t even know what those arrows do,” said Marina, raising an eyebrow.

“They are enchanted with fire, are they not?” Blackjack called to Myraeon.

“Yes,” he said.

“How did you know?” asked Marina.

“You must learn to read the signs, little Mercian,” said Blackjack condescendingly. “How you learned your magic without any knowledge of the lore of the world astounds me. Your teacher must have been incredibly incompetent.”

Marina frowned and bit her lip; she was utterly seething.

After another downwards turn, Myraeon stopped in front a stone archway where a wooden door sat. It looked most out of place buried this far in the mines, but Friedrich could tell that there was more to it than first met the eye.

“Balgreuh is not a foe to trifle with,” said Myraeon. “He is strong and he is quick, but he is narrow sighted. Use that to your advantage and beware his fire.”

“Fire?” muttered Marina, starting to shake.

“Go for the eyes,” said Blackjack, nocking an arrow, while Friedrich and Marina clutched their weapons tightly.

Friedrich was filled with a mixture of excitement, fear and anxiety. He could feel the fox mask hanging around his neck, but the thought that he could add another mask to his power was enticing. If he could bolster his arsenal, then he would be able to fulfil his mission. He could not yet afford a boat, but he could empower himself in preparation for what would come next.

“Are you ready?” asked Myraeon, placing his hand upon the door handle.

Friedrich looked at Marina, who nodded, then at Blackjack who nodded too. “We’re ready,” he said. “Let us at him.”