He stood in the foyer of the wizard’s keep, his face red with anger. This is no job for a Fyrogenian general! he thought with disgust. It’s a job for errand boys, at best!

“Well?” he said sharply to the young apprentice before him.

“Begging your pardon, general. My master is involved with something very delicate, and will be with you shortly.”

“Shortly? Shortly?! I’ve been waiting for three hours!” he bellowed. He shoved his way past the apprentice and pounded on the study door.

From behind the door, there was a roar unlike anything the general had ever heard. He had battled many inhuman foes, but the sounds that came from behind that door chilled him to his core.

“What…” He turned to the apprentice. “What was that?”

There was a sound like thunder, and all was quiet. The door opened, and the old mage strode out, anger like a cloud around him. “That, general, was an interruption that almost cost me my life, and has cost your king my aid!”

The general foresaw a swift demotion. To errand boy.