Vand actually felt the sickness flee from his body. He inhaled deeply as he felt his strength returning. His eyes fell to the desert floor, and he saw rich garments before him. He picked them up and dressed. When he was done, Dobuk gently picked Vand up, and the priest stood on the demon’s open palm while Dobuk explained what he was to do. After an indeterminable amount of time, Dobuk was satisfied that his new priest would know what to do. He placed Vand back on the ground and winked conspiratorially. Vand bowed low before his new master. Dobuk waved a claw, and a door appeared in the sands of the desert.

“You must visit regularly,” warned Dobuk. “I will not stand for disobedience. I am not Kaltara, and my vengeance will be slow and deliberate. Do you understand?”

“Perfectly,” nodded Vand.

Dobuk disappeared in a puff of smoke. Vand turned and walked through the door to the small closet. He closed the door and stood in the darkness for a moment. Slowly, he opened the door and stepped out into the cave below the Asylum. The old man gasped audibly when he saw the priest. Vand grinned and motioned the old man towards him.

“You have something that belongs to me,” Vand declared. “Give it to me.”

The old man’s eyes grew large as he fumbled inside his tunic for the contract.

“How have you survived?” asked the old man. “The others either never returned or came back crazy.”

“The others were not High Priests,” grinned Vand as he tore the contract up and stuffed the pieces into his pouch. “I left a present for you inside the closet. It is the least I could do for one who has shown me the way to greatness.”

A pall of confusion came over the old man’s face, but his curiosity was strong. He immediately moved beyond the priest and peered through the open door to the closet. He saw nothing. Unexpectedly, Vand pushed the old man into the closet and slammed the door shut. He could barely hear the old man’s cries of terror as he passed through the cave to the stairs leading up to the shop.