Grimm and his companions were hustled through a metal door, and the Questor heard a loud hiss as it closed. Instinctively, he worked his jaw to ease the pain in his ears. The discomfort passed.

They were standing shivering in a small cubicle furnished with wheels, clocks, cartouches and coloured lights like those in Foster's cubicle within the helicopter. Their guide, or guard, pointed a metal implement at each of them in turn, studying a number of tiny, blinking lamps on its surface.

Pressing a stud on the wall, the man shouted "They're clean," and the door in front of them slid smoothly open.

The cubicle opened into a large, metal-walled space, illuminated by a warm, orange light from the ceiling. Two further guards with Technological weapons stood before the cubicle's exit.

Behind the guards stood a tall, slender man dressed in loose, black trousers, a white shirt unlike any Grimm had ever seen, and a strip of cloth, knotted at his throat and hanging down his chest. He was tall and slender, with close-cropped brown hair and no beard.

This last shocked Grimm; a beard was the outward mark of a man of importance, and he could not understand why anybody in such a responsible position would want to remove it. The young mage might trim and shape his own whiskers, but he would no sooner shave them off than he would countenance walking around stark naked.

The strangely-dressed man eased the two guards aside. "Thank you, gentlemen; that will be all.

"Welcome to Haven, friends," he continued as the guards strode off, his voice a pleasant baritone. "I am overjoyed to meet you. Although we have many souls here at Haven, it's always a pleasure to see new faces. My name is Armitage, and I'm the Administrator of this facility, for my sins."

Armitage turned towards Xylox and spoke in a warm, friendly voice.

"Lord Mage, I'd guess you are in charge of this group? I am honoured to make the acquaintance of such a distinguished thaumaturge. We see so few mages here." Armitage extended his hand towards the Questor.