“What do you want?” Barius sounded tired and beaten. Maybe reality had finally tunneled through his skull, and the prince realized he was going to die. Jig wanted to reassure him that he’d get used to the thought after a while, but decided it would be better to remain silent.

“It’s not about what I want. It’s what he wants.” The Necromancer nodded at Ryslind. Then he smirked again. “Still, nobody could complain if I kept one or two, to replace a few of my toy soldiers. The dwarf, I think. He’ll make a good warrior. And one other.” He rubbed his tiny chin.

His eyes looked from Riana to Jig and back. To Jig’s shame, all he could think was, Take the elf. Elves are stronger than goblins. They’re smarter. You don’t want me.

“The elf could be useful for the task ahead of you, but I see no reason for you to take the goblin. Leave him for me.”

“Dung!” Jig shouted. “Why me? Why not her? Why does it always have to be the goblin?” His voice trailed off as he realized what he was doing. He had shouted at the Necromancer. “Uh . . . sir,” he added quietly.

The Necromancer didn’t take offense. “You intrigue me, goblin. You were the one to figure out my little game. You were quite right, you know. Dreadfully lonely down here. Sometimes I summon one of my bats and play with it, but they die so quickly. With the lizard-fish guarding the vortex, I rarely get to talk to anyone from above. I’ve even snuck into Straum’s domain a time or two, just for the company.

“You should be honored, little goblin. You’ll be the first of your race to become one of my servants.” He gestured toward the corpses. “I’ve humans and dwarves and even an elf or two.” He lowered his voice and looked at the others, as if sharing a deep secret. “Though elves don’t take too well to being dead.”

“Neither do I,” Jig said.

The Necromancer grinned, revealing blackened gums. Seeing Jig’s stare, he explained, “Nothing much to eat down here. Had to make do on what I could conjure, and I’m afraid it wasn’t all that healthy. Rotted the teeth right out of my head. What I wouldn’t give for a crisp, juicy apple. Some days I think I’d trade all my power for one apple.”

Jig stared. “But without teeth, how would you eat it?”