My head whipped sideways to see the skeletal bat topple off my shoulder and clatter against the ground. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw the familiars of the other four do the same.

What the hell is going on?

Whatever trap I had triggered it had not affected me or the other candidates. Only the familiars. This couldn’t be the Master’s doing. But if not him, who? Ishita? And what—

A merry chuckle floated out of the darkness.

I spun about, drawing my blades. The others followed a hairsbreadth after. Standing ten yards behind us, was the jester’s spitting image. This just keeps getting stranger and stranger.

“Who in blasted hells are you?” Bornholm bellowed.

The figure blinked out. Then reappeared much closer. One moment, he was yards away, the next he was bent over Bornholm, his painted face inches from the dwarf’s own. “I, you rude fellow, am the Harlequin.” He paused theatrically.

No one responded.

“Ah, you don’t recognize me. How disappointing.” The stranger pouted. “Very well, I see introductions are in order.”

The jester blinked out and back in, appearing at Morin’s side. “By the by, I like your colors, my dear. Very lovely,” he murmured. Before she could respond, he vanished again, only to reappear ten yards away again. “I am Loken, Power of Shadow, member of the Shadow Coalition, connoisseur of the jest, master of disguises, ruler of the emerald sea, and so on, and so on…”

My eyes widened. Another Power? I recognized this one’s name though. The Power before me was the same one whose notice I had attracted after freeing the wolves.

Loken’s gaze met mine across the distance. “Finally, it seems I am known!” he exclaimed. His eyes twinkled. There was something about them… something familiar…

Wait a goddamn minute!

My mouth dropped open. “Hamish?!” I blurted. “It couldn’t be, yet it was. The mannerisms, the build, it all fit. The grey merchant was Loken!

The Power bowed with a flourish. “You’ve seen through my disguise. I had a bet with myself about that, you know. And I’ve won!” He clapped his hands together in delight.

The others were shocked. I was too. I stared dumbfounded at the Power. “What? Why?” I finally managed to get out. I wasn’t sure what exactly I wanted explained, but I knew I needed some sort of answer.

“All in good time,” Loken said. He waved his hand delicately. “But come away from those ugly things. We can talk by the mushrooms. I so love their color.”

I frowned, thinking at first the Power meant my companions, but then realizing he was actually pointing to the familiars. “What’s happened to them?” I asked, prodding Gnat’s body with my toe.

“I’ve frozen the foul creatures. They can neither see nor hear. And they will stay that way until we are done,” Loken said. “Still, I dislike the sight of the things. Now enough questions. Follow me!” Pivoting on his heel, the Power skipped down the tunnel, back to the trolls’ cavern.

I glanced at the others. Bornholm’s jaw worked soundlessly, Tantor was rubbing his lips nervously, and even Morin, tugging at her hair, appeared distressed. “Do we follow him?” Bornholm finally asked in a loud whisper.

“I can hear you, you know!” Loken called out, his voice floating through the darkness.

Morin and Tantor looked at me, waiting for me to take the lead.

I had no idea what the right course was. My mind was still struggling to come to terms with the Power’s revelation. Unbelievably, Loken was Hamish—the person whom I had grown to trust most in this world.

But if Loken is Hamish, Hamish isn’t real—and never was. He was just a role played by the Power. Which meant… I shook my head. I had no idea what it meant. I glanced at the frozen familiars, wondering at the repercussions when they woke up.

I sighed. Matters were growing complicated. “Let’s go hear what he has to say.” At this stage, I didn’t see how any of us had anything to lose.

~~~

Loken was tapping his foot impatiently by the time the four of us stole into the troll cavern. “Quickly now,” he said. “I don’t have much time.”

“What’s the hurry?” I asked cautiously.

“I’ve blown my disguise,” he harrumphed. “Every minute longer that I spend here, increases the chance of Erebus detecting my presence.”

Morin’s brows drew down. “Erebus?”

Loken slapped his palm to his forehead. “I forgot. You people know him as the Master.”

Ah. I had a name now for my nemesis.

“How are you even here?” Tantor asked quietly. “This sector belongs to the Mas— err… I mean Erebus. I thought the Powers couldn’t enter each other’s realms uninvited?”

“Oh, I was invited alright.” The jester grinned. “Or at least, Hamish was. Even other Powers struggle to see through my guises when I don’t want them to.”

“Was anything about Hamish even real?” I asked. I was slowly coming to terms with the Power’s deception, but still I couldn’t help but be hurt by the betrayal.

“Hamish was real, my friend!” Loken said. “As real as you and me.” He paused. “Or you, anyway. When I play a role, I assume the part fully.” He bowed his head. “Alas, the poor merchant must be retired now. His cover is blown, and the others will be hunting him.” He met my gaze. “Hamish wishes you to know he enjoyed your company and regrets that you had to part ways. You have my word that he never lied to you.”

I didn’t know which disturbed me more, the fact that Loken was speaking of himself in the third person, or that I believed him.

“Now, I’m sure you are all wondering—” the Power began.

“Did you do that?” I asked abruptly, pointing to the trolls.

Loken frowned at me. “It’s rude to interrupt, you know,” he said primly. “I’ve killed players for less.”

I just stared at him, not sure if he was joking.

He sighed. “Yes, if you must know, it was me. I did it so we might have this little chat. Now, can I continue?”

I nodded.

“Excellent,” he said. He held up a gold marble. “Now I’m here because of this.”

My face drained of color as I began to suspect what he held. Frantically, I felt my pockets, searching for the stone I had retrieved from Hamish so recently.

“What Class stone is that?” Bornholm asked, unaware of my sudden panic.

“A blood siphon,” Loken said at the same time as I withdrew the gold marble from my pocket. In front of my eyes, the stone in my hands turned to dust.

I lifted my eyes slowly to the Power’s.

He shrugged contritely. “The one I gave you was a fake. I apologize for the deception, but I needed to buy some time to speak to you first. I couldn’t let you assume a Dark Class until we had a chance to talk.”

The others turned around to stare at me. “The stone is yours?” Morin asked.

I nodded curtly. “I looted it from Saben.” My gaze darted to Loken. “Before he stole it.”

“I did not!” the jester declared. “I’m no thief. I will give it back to you.”

“When?” I demanded.

“After we’re done speaking.”

I studied him suspiciously for a moment, before letting go of my anger. It was useless against a Power anyway. But is he one? We only had his word for it after all. Reaching out with my will, I cast analyze on the jester.

You cannot analyze your target! This entity is a Power and immune to this ability!

Huh. Well, that answers that.

“That was rude,” Loken said. “But given that you are upset, I will forgive you.” His mask of affability slipped and his expression turned cold. “This time. Do we understand each other?”

I lowered my gaze. Calmly, Michael, I told myself and bobbed my head meekly.

“Good!” the jester said, his tone light again. “Now I see that perhaps I erred in my choice of mask. Perhaps a serious face will be more conducive for this conversation.”

Loken blinked out.