“This can’t go on,” he said, his tone clearly bringing the meeting to a close. “You have one more chance, Agent Fallon. If you can’t ensure that Jeremy Parker does not become yet another victim to Kyrine, we’ll need to look again at the mission. We need every dungeon at our disposal, but we do not have an endless supply of Keepers. If this mission fails, it will be on your head, Agent Fallon. The dungeon Kyrine will also be out of your hands.”

She nodded once. “Understood, sir.”

Thinking the interview was at an end, Amanda stood and made her way toward the door. Hornwell was glancing over his papers again, and had put his small half-moon glasses on. Amanda was reaching for the polished brass door handle when his voice stopped her.

“Agent Fallon?”

She turned, reluctantly, keeping her hand on the door handle. “Sir?”

The Director sighed, placing his hands together on top of his closed folder. He leaned over the desk and looked hard at Amanda, peering at her over the tops of his glasses. With his head lowered like that, he no longer looked like a cow chewing the cud. Now he looked more like a bull letting you know it could charge and gore you at any moment if you moved too quickly.

“You are familiar with the history that lies between our peoples, the drow and the satyrs, aren’t you?”

Amanda the drow elf nodded, warily. “The satyrs were once enslaved by the drow.”

“You do know that I don’t hold it against you, right?” He lifted his right arm, holding it out and thoughtfully inspecting the intricate pattern of symmetrical scarring that was the brand the drow inflicted on those they enslaved.

Ramu Hornwell had been a slave to the drow. It might have been a century ago, but he would never forget. The brand could have been removed with a healing spell, but Hornwell had chosen to keep it. As a reminder. Why exactly he would want a reminder of such a dark time in his youth, Amanda didn’t know.

Amanda held back a shudder and tried to speak calmly. “I wouldn’t expect you to hold it against me, sir.. I was born years after the portal closed from Eosor.”

“But I lived on Eosor,” said Hornwell with feeling. “I was alive when the Fateweaver’s influence extended to all four corners of that beloved world. If we don’t have all the dungeons progressing quickly within the next year, the chances are that Earth will become another world conquered by the Fateweaver.”

“You have my word that my team and I are doing our absolute best.”

“Well, that’s good. Keep me informed of your progress, Agent Fallon. You are dismissed.”