“Your Murkhling,” said Bun, marveling at the words. “Do you mean to say, that giant gray monster that just picked me up and dropped me down, and made me vomit all over the place–the one that grew taller than a Min La tree, then taller than Mt. Circlet–was your servant?”

“Indeed,” said the cloaked figure. “One of many.”

“And who are you, who is so powerful as to command enormous beasts of burden?” said Cao Nyut.

The cloaked man turned to the pachyderm. “They call me the Skulking One. I am The Pit, the Dark Diamond, the Driving Nail. In the Up Above, I was known by those, and by many other magnificent titles. But down here in the darkness, I am simply called The Lord of Shandapidoor. Or was, at least, until very lately.”

A shiver ran up Cao Nyut’s spine.

“The Up Above?” Bun said.

“Yes indeed, young master. In the other realm, where I once dwelt, at the table with the Gods.”

“You mena with Great Wandering Machuck, and Prahbatlu, The Sky Whale? And Demicort, she of the Molten Fist?”

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Incredibly, the cloaked man’s mouth appeared to smirk.

“Demicort was there, sure enough,” he said. “Machuck was never one for staying home, though I’ve met her once or twice. Nice enough lady, though cold, a bit distant, as if she were always stuck there in her own little world.”

Even Cao Nyut, the more reserved of the duo, was openly gaping, now.

“Just who are you?” said Bun, “I mean, really?”

“Would you have me tell you my tale?”

“Yes,” said Bun and Cao Nyut in unison. It was true, they both desperately wanted to know. “But first,” said Cao Nyut, “at the risk of pressing you, Lord of Shandapidoor, I have to ask you one more question.”

“Ask,” said the Lord.

“Have you come into contact with a creature called Thermock? For Thermock’s capture is our whole reason for being down here in the first place, and if you have any information about her, I would hear it.”

“Indeed, I have had contact with Thermock,” said the Lord of Shandapidoor, “and that spoony charlatan has all but dethroned me. My very life may be in danger. But it has been so long since anyone has lent me a set of ears, as it gets ever so lonely down here. And, as Thermock is part of my tale, would you not hear me out to the end?”

Bun and Cao Nyut agreed, and the Lord of Shandapidoor told his tale.