George knew what Britt was asking. “I give it time, because he just does not know. Looking at Johanna’s eyes, I can tell she is in love with him. However, he is completely blind or just is not ready. I have been trying to nudge them on when ever I can.” George became silent, thinking about his own true love, Shyla. He left out a heavy sigh.
Britt reached out his hand and patted him on the shoulder. “Do not give hope, son. I believe you will meet with her again one day. Just promise me one thing, George.”
“What is that, Britt,” he asked with renewed hope.
“First you need to stop thieving and live a honest life.”
“Oh I already know that,” George said. “I do not want to jeopardize losing her again. The only thing is thieving is the only thing I am good at. I do not know any other skills.”
“You can learn something from what you already know,” the dwarf said wisely.
“I see what you mean,” George said. “I even have an idea. I also am good with numbers. Hey! I might be a good banker. What was the second thing?”
“When you get married, I want to be your best man.”
“You got it!”
Balon and Massacharamar were amused watching the two dancers.
“The king and queen of the ball,” the magic-user said. When he saw Bard accidently step on Johanna’s toe, he laughed. “He has a lot of learning, but he is catching on quick. Shall we join them?”
“With pleasure,” the elf said. The shortly joined the dancers on the floor.
George looked over at Britt. “Do not even ask.”
“Do not worry; I was not going at ask you to dance. I wanted to know if you wanted to check out the room over across the hallway.
“I do not see any reason why we should interrupt the partiers.”
They got off the thrones and walked to the first door.
“They must have collected something from each of their adventures,” Britt said, after making sure the room was secure.
“Do you remember the tapestry in Stephan’s room?” George asked. “Maybe this is the dragon he had slain.” On the northern wall was a dragonskin. Britt wan his hands over the green scales. “After all these years, and this skin is still in very good condition.”
“What is the sense of having something like this? It has no use, handing on this wall. I am sure it would sell. Somebody, could make shoes and clothes out of this.”
“I agree,” said Britt. “If I have to kill something, I do not keep parts of it to brag about it. True, something will provide me with food and clothing. But to have something just for the sake of it,, it just means that I have more stuff to carry. Even if I did have a home, I do not think I would litter it up with worthless junk.”
“My home,” said George, “will have a roomful of books.” His eyes opened wide. “How did he even managed to do that?”
Looking where George was pointing, Britt saw a stone basilisk.
Maybe this is just a sculpture. They walked over an rans his hands over it. “No, this was alive at on time. Do not worry, George,” he said when he noticed the thief was trying not to look in the creature’s eyes, “it will not harm you or anybody again.”
“Still, how did Stephan manage to do this. He would have turned to stone when he directly looked into the basilisk’s eyes.
“He must have been using a mirror. The creature probably saw his reflection and it turned to stone.”
“We were wondering where you disappeared to,” Balon said, when Britt and George returned to the dance floor. “Did you find anything?”
“No it was some sort of trophy rooms. There were bear rugs, antlers from a moose or an elk. Then he told them about the dragon skin and the petrified basilisk.
“Interesting,” the magic-user said. “I wouldn’t even want to tangel with one of those.”
“There is a hallway to the south,” Bard said.
They followed a short hallway. “I hope this is not another maze room,” said George after they made three right turns.
“No it is a room,” Massacharamar said, when after they made the final right, she walked right into the door. The plaque on the door read:
“Thomas,
My friend,
My Captain,
My comrade in arms.
You are my best fighter,
Trusted Among Friends
Feared by your enemies
May you prevail
In all that you do!”

“This must be the captain’s chamber,” Bard said.
“I would have thought that this would have been a more elegant room,” George said.
“All the chambers have been like that,” Bard said. “It seemed that the people who lived here have been frugal.”
“Sure,” Britt said, “we have found gems and gold coins throughout the fortress. However, it is nothing different of the other missions we have been on. Joban did put more of his money in the furnishings in his rooms.”
A bed sat in one corner of the room. There was nothing special about it. It looked like somebody had hammered some planks together and suffed a mattress with straw. The table was built crudely in the same way. On top of the table was a chipped stoneware dish and mug. “Maybe he was the one who turned the basilisk into stone,” Balon said holding up a mirror.
George unlocked a wooden trunk that was found under the bed. He was disappointed when he did not find anything valuable in it. “Nothing but a coat, cloaks, boots and a broken knife.”
Britt came, with a grin, carrying a barrel. “Let’s take a break and have a drink.”
“What is that?” Bard asked.
“Ale! And it is still fresh!”

“It is getting late,” shouldn’t we get back to the library?” George asked, looking around the room.
“No,” hiccupped Britt, “it would be safer to stay here.”
George shook his head. He and Balon were the only sensible ones. He had filled his flask once. When he had finished his, he had no more. Balon did nothing, he just sat on the bed, smiling and watching the others in silence. Even though they were no where near what you would call intoxicated, their judgement would be off if they encountered any monsters on the way back. Well, at least the barrel of ale, was finished. After a solid sleep, and a good breakfast, they would be one their way once again. According to Stephan and Joban’s map, there were other rooms nearby.
“George!” Britt suddenly exclaimed.
“What?” the thief asked startled, thinking that an orc suddenly materialized in the room.
“What happens next?”
“Oh,” knowing what Britt was talking about. He pulled the journal he had found in the dry pool out of his bag, and began reading as soon as Balon deciphered it with the read spell.

I see you have found my second journal. I see that you are getting deeper and deeper into into my cavern since you found the dry place I told you about. Congratulations. You are brave explorers, or foolish ones. However, if you make it through the Caverns of Kildun Aalda, do not expect any magical rewards from me. You may find trinkets scattered throughout the room. Some as you can see are worth something in gold pieces. Others may protect you. That is all I am going to tell you, since you are intruding upon my and Stephan’s privacy.

I will not bore you with details of all the rooms I explored while I was in the tiger castle of Gallapas. I defeated many monsters throughout the different rooms. Whenever, I rested I read from the magic journal and learned different spells. Within a short amout of time I went from being a medium and advanced to a conjurer. Maybe that was what I intended to do in the first place. However, I still felt that my life was unworthy. I had no choice but to continue.

I found myself in the castle longer than I intended to be. Once I left the castle, I had an eight or nine day journey back to Antares. My food supply would run out efore I got back. I would either have to end my quest now and head back with my belt tightened around my stomache. Or I could continue and worry about finding food later.
After several days of exploring, killing monsters, finding treasures, meditating and building up my magical skills, I found myself in a room that was lit with a glow and I did not need my lantern. When I saw the glassware that lined the shelves, I realized that I was in Gasllapas’s laboratory. On the west wall there were two windows that were shaped like tiger eyes. However, when I went to look at them, I could neither see out of them or break them
Where was this glow coming from? On the west wall were two furnaces. Coals were in them and even though they were giving off light, there was no smoke. They were not even hot; I was able to hold some in my hand without getting burnt.
In the center of the room was a spiral staircase, just like one of many spiral staircases throughout the castle. The glow from the furnace lit it entirely and I could see above my head. A trapdoor was in the ceiling above my head. Somehow, I knew that what I was seeking was up there. I pulled on it and the door came down, revealing another set of stairs.
I entered the room and as soon as I climbed through the hole in the floor, I heard a hissing to my right. A pit viper was coiled up, ready to strike. With the spells I had already used, I had to wait until I was rested. There was one I had not used yet. The snake, suddenly relaxed and went limp. I imagine it snoring as I walked by its still body. “Let it sleep,” I told myself. There was no reason to kill it. It would still be dreaming, what snakes normally dream about in their tiny pea-sized brains, when I left this room.
I looked around the thirty foot circular room. Shelves loaded with books lined most of the walls of this castle. I was standing in Gallapas’s private study. Even if I did not find this rumored treasure by surviving the quest into the castle, the greatest wealth would be in these books. However, after I looked through a couple, I realized they were just general books, the types you can find in different towns such as Antares. There did not seem to be any journals or books on spells.
A cool breeze started blowing through the room. I became aware of a presence in the room. I did not see it but felt that something was watching me as I moved.
I turned slowly around and I saw a cloud of dust. There was a strange light source within the dust. Soon it formed into a translucent being. I was facing Gallapass’s ghost! He slowly raised his hand. How would I fight and defeat a ghost? I raised my hand to use whatever power to distract this being and escape.
“You cannot attack me!” the ghost laughed. It was not an evil laugh. In fact, he chuckled gently. “You are mortal and I am immortal!” With no power to defeat this presence, my unworthy light would be ended. “Joban,” the ghost said, gently, “There is need to be afraid of me.”
A cool breeze that was blowing around me had now turned into a fierce cold wind. It sent chills up and down my spine. The ghost was floating a foot above the floor. I realized that I had no need to fear it. This one had no evil in it; it was a benevolent ghost.