“Mix a lot of it,” Aakuta smiled meekly. “I don’t expect that Vand will allow me to die anytime in the near future.”

“It is highly addictive,” Lady Mystic shook her head. “Too much of it and you will lose your ability to reason. Just be thankful for an hour of peace.”

Aakuta fell silent as he watched Lady Mystic mix the ingredients for the potion. The silence was disturbing, and Lady Mystic felt the need to talk.

“I have been watching you every day,” she said softly. “I had no idea that you could reason. You hide it well.”

“You can imagine what Vand would do if he knew that I could think,” sighed Aakuta. “I knew that I must hide that fact well.”

Lady Mystic’s eyebrows rose as she turned to stare at the dark mage. She pondered Aakuta’s admission and eventually nodded at his logic.

“He would torture you anew,” she declared. “You were wise to hide it from him, but why do you wish to think? You are only making it harder on yourself. I would wager that it is wiser to be without reason in your condition. The insane do not feel the pain as severely as those who can concentrate.”

“My task here is not complete,” Aakuta admitted as he drank the potion that Lady Mystic handed to him. “Ah,” he smiled broadly, “that is a wonderful feeling. I actually feel human again. How long will it last?”

“I am not sure,” replied Lady Mystic. “My guess is around an hour, but I have never had the opportunity to try it on someone in your severe condition. What do you mean when you say that your task is not complete?”

“I have paid a steep price for spying on Vand,” explained Aakuta. “The least I can do to repay him is to complete that task. I must continue to send word to Emperor Marak’s people about what is happening here on Motanga. I must inform them when the invasion will begin.”