As the tips of the final rays of sunshine caressed the darkening land, a lone figure standing on the top of a rise, raises the trumpet to his lips and the sound of trumpeting geese fills the air. Shadows begin to move in choreographed patterns, moving forward as one, creating a creature of darkness.

A lone figure dashes through the darkened village then crouches behind the well while frantically   searching for a safe place to hide. Nora, the inn keeper’s daughter slumps against the cold stone of the well, despair crushing her under its weight as the dancing shadow surrounds her.

“Who have we here?” the booming voice echoes around the cavern making the most hardened warrior quake with fear.

“T’s the inn keeper’s daughter, my lord. She was found by the well”

“Remove the body from my chambers; you’re getting blood all over the floor”

Hurriedly the body is removed as Lord Dufflenose paces to the window and gazes on the Ebony Amulet which he wears on his arm. The heavy silver cuff bracelet inset with an intricate design in Ebony glinted in the morning sun.  It had been ten years since he’d taken the amulet from the Cave of Non-Description. He’d conquered every land he’d entered since then. Now all that was left was this one little village at the foot of his castle. But no matter what he did he simply could not convince the villagers that he was their new ruler.

“Lord Dufflenose a messenger has brought some disturbing news from the village.”

Lord Dufflenose scowls at the scrawny little fellow with the long nose and large ears. “What is it now, Victor? Can you not see I’m busy?”

Victor bows in submission, “But your lordship, there is trouble brewing in the village, a newcomer arrived this morning”

“A newcomer, you say? What’s that got to do with the price of dragon scales?”

Victor shuffles his feet, “This newcomer, he says he has come to enforce your laws” Victor peers up at his lord and master and begins to tremble at the look of outrage on his master’s face.