You continue to slide for several seconds, your head and arms banging against the sides of the chute, Finally, it opens into a large room. You fall eight feet straight down, strike a man-sized body, and, finally, land head first on the rock floor.

Some minutes later, you shake your aching head and open your eyes. Your vision is blurred and tinted red, but you see three blobby shapes standing nearby. They seem to be talking, but your groggy mind cannot understand their words.

In a few seconds, your head clears and you identify the shapes. They are three heavily armored men, and, apparently, they are very angry.

"I'll lop his ears off and feed him to the dogs," says the closest. He turns toward you and sees you are awake. "So, you've finished your nap, have you?" He steps closer and jabs you in the ribs. "You fell on one of my friends , you did, and now he's as dead as a fish out of water, he is." He raps your aching head with his knuckles. Instinctively, you try to raise your arms to protect yourself, but your hands are tied behind your back. "Don't squirm!" he says, kicking you in the ribs.

"Hugh! Don't kill him, or I'll cut your thumb off!" barks the largest man. Hugh turns toward the speaker, his hand on his sword hilt. The large man draws his sword quickly, then says, "The Master wants to talk to this one."

Hugh releases his sword hilt, saying, "Okay, Morgan. But when the Master finishes, we've a little game to play, him and me." The others chuckle nastily.

"Sure, Hugh," says Morgan, "just leave enough meat for the runts."

Morgan opens the door behind you and says, "This way, scoundrel." The men drag you through the door and cut your bonds. Your fingers ache as the blood flows back into your numb hands. The largest of your captors grabs your shoulder and turns you around. A black robed figure sits behind a heavy table on the other side of the dark room. On either side of the hooded figure, a candle set in a wolf-skull holder sputters noisily. The hooded figure studies you briefly, then waves all but Morgan out of the room.

"Well, now," hisses the Master, "you are a resourceful youth. I fear I have underestimated your capabilities, but I will not make the same mistake twice." He stands, almost silently, and says "But I am not a vengeful man. I will give you an opportunity to free yourself from the debt of lives and trouble you have incurred in my abode." He reaches into the darkness behind his seat, and pulls aside a black curtain. Several large, slimy frogs sit in a cage behind the curtain. You can see the tips of long fangs sticking out from their mouths. "I will take payment in two forms - your service, or your life. The choice is yours." He smiles and you see that his face is almost bone-white. Will you agree to serve the Master (184), or refuse (183)?