The Malifestro Quest


Bivotar and Juranda stay in the castle with the two elves. They meet the other occupants of the castle: a grouchy cook, a pair of identical twin gnomes who work in the stables, a few dumb but loyal troll guards, and an ancient, totally deaf sorcerer who sits in his room all day, mumbling useless spells.

The days bring little news from the outside world. One day, while the elves and the adventurers are eating a skimpy dinner in the giant banquet hall, an enormous ball of fire appears in the center of the room. It fades to a cloud of smoke, and from this cloud steps a tall figure. He is old and thin, but his eyes burn with the vigor of youth.

"Malifestro!" Fred and Max shriek in unison, diving under the banquet table.

Malifestro waves his hand in front of his face, spreading a trail of sparks, and speaks in a voice that is both quiet and menacing.

"So, it is young Bivotar and Juranda, whose disquieting presence I felt from a land and a half away. The visitors from afar, who defeated the mighty Krill so easily. Had you come to me on your own terms, you might have posed a danger. As it is . . ."

He flicks a handful of sweet-smelling powder at them. Before they have a chance to react, they feel themselves slowly turning from flesh into stone. The last thing they hear is Malifestro saying, "This castle needed some new statuary, anyway."

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