"You must be Muyal," you say. "Where are my warriors? Where are the people that those…things of yours abducted?"
"Did you not recognize them?" she says. "Why, I'm sure you must have seen a familiar face among my servants."
"You turned my people into those creatures?" you ask. "Why? What kind of magic could do such a thing?"
"The kind of power I wield," she replies, "does not come cheap. I guide people to this island and provide them with a safe haven—for a price. People are brought to this chamber, and here I draw out their energy and vitality to renew my own strength and power. Into the empty husk that remains, I place a creature of magic, drawn from the spirit world to do my bidding. The ward I have placed upon this isle leaches away the memory of these events, so in time, these absences are entirely forgotten. While I cannot claim to be charitable, it's a small price for the villagers to pay for their safety."
"And is that why you drew us here?" you ask. "To turn us into your servants?"
"I would have some of your tribespeople for that duty, certainly," she replies. "But you, Basileios, are spoken for."
"Spoken for?" you ask. "What do you mean?"
Next