"I'm so hungry!" moaned Lina. "My feet hurt, it's hot, and I need to take a bath!"
She walked up the side of the mountain (as she had eaten her horse several days ago) at a brisk pace. She hadn't seen a village for over two days, and her supplies were running low.
"That kid better have been right about this place." she muttered.
After several hours more walking Lina sat down for a rest. She could see her destination now, a huge castle at the top of the mountain.
"Why are castles always some where where no one in their right mind would want to go?" she whined again. It had been a long day.
Lina banged on the door. "Hey buddy! Let me in!" she screamed.
The door swung open in front of her, revealing a luxurious entrance hall lit with thousands of candles. Before her stood the largest man she had ever seen.
"May I help you?" he asked politely.
"Yeah. I'm looking for some sort of hot spring that's suppose to be around here. And I'm hungry!" she cried.
The butler cocked an eyebrow at the red headed sorceress, and led her in.
"Wait here." he ordered, and walked into the adjoining room.
Lina looked around in wide eyed amazement. The entire room was covered with tapestries. A golden chandelier hung from the ceiling, holding hundreds of candles.
The door that the butler had left through swung open.
"Master Edwards." the towering butler introduced.
"Nice to meet you! My you're a little one!" Edwards shook her hand vigorously.
"I'm Lina Inverse." Lina introduced her self.
"Lina Inverse! The walking force of destruction! The bane of all who live! How wonderful!" Edwards bubbled, "We haven't had a guest here for, ohhh..."
"Fifteen years today, sir." the butler finished.
"Fifteen years! My that's a long time!" he laughed. "Don't just stand there, Jeeves, let us feed our new guest!"
"Uhhhh, if you don't mind me asking, why haven't you had any visitors in fifteen years?" Lina asked.
"Cause' the last guy died. Pretty gruesomely if I remember right." Edward laughed and past into the next room.
"Is he..." Lina began.
"Nuts?" finished the butler. "Oh yes. He hasn't been right ever since the mistress passed on. If you're smart you'll leave now." he turned and began to walk into the other room. "If you're not, then follow me."
Lina shrugged and followed him through the door. As much as she hated this place there was something she needed.
"How do you like your chicken, Ms. Lina?" Edward called from the opposite end of the table.
"It's fine. I'm a bit thirsty, though." she called back.
"Oh yes! Where are my manners? Jeeves! Bring us some water!" he snapped his fingers in the air. Moments later Jeeves came carrying a jug of sparkling water.
"This water is great!" exclaimed Lina after she took a small sip.
"Isn't it, though! We have a natural spring in the courtyard. I haven't had anything else for years!" he cried.
"This water comes from a spring, here?!" Lina leapt to her feet. "This is what I came for!"
"Wonderful!" laughed Edwards. "But now that you have what you want, what about me?"
"Huh?" Lina cocked an eyebrow.
Jeeves leaned down. "I told you you should have left."
"I can't just let you leave. The Master would not be happy at all. No, my dear, I'm afraid that you'll have to stay here." said Edwards. "Jeeves?"
"I am dreadfully sorry about this." said Jeeves as he grabbed the small sorceress.
"Now," Edwards smiled, ",shall we retire to my chamber now, or would you prefer to finish eating?"
"What?" Lina screamed.
"I said..." began Edwards.
"Darkness beyond twilight..." Lina began to chant.
Lina stood at the base of the crater that used to be a mountain.
"What a pervert." Lina turned and began to walk the long path to Sairune, the precious water at her side.