We approached Albrecht’s throne. Even sitting, he was massive. 6’8”, with a build that would have made a Conan-age Schwarzenegger seem weak by comparison. His armour, made by the same wizard that built his keep, from the same onyx, made him look every bit the vile man he was.

He paled compared to what stood next to him. A demon, fully ten feet tall, soles to scalp. Skin blacker than the keep walls. It was like light refused to touch something so base, so evil. Wings of blackened bone, easily twenty feet across when extended, sat on it’s heavily muscled shoulders. It’s face, some grotesque mash-up between a bulldog, chimpanzee, and angler fish.

It looked us over, it’s gaze falling on Jaime. It’s eyes widened, and it burst out laughing. “That?!” it yelled. “That is the power I felt enter this place?! That little slip of a girl?!”

“Keep laughing, ugly,” I heard Jaime whisper. “When the time’s right, you won’t find me so funny.”

Her voice was so cold, I had to look to make sure it was still Jaime speaking.