The wraith quivered in abject terror before the silent figure of 
the Master. Neither spoke, but rudimentary thoughts running through the 
'mind' of the wraith were certain of it's imminent destruction.

	"You failed my Word." spoke the Master in a soft, grating tone. 
No other words were necessary. The wraith steeled itself for 'death'. 

	The Master tapped his finger lightly on the grey throne he 
resided upon. "You expect some form of recompensation for your failure to 
bring Xyo to me. That is good. You understand what the price of failure 
brings. So I grant...mercy."

	The wraith's form shuddered, a ripple of darkness fluttering 
through it. Mercy? From it's Master? It was...unheard of..

	The Master waved a hand, balancing a glimmering ball of darkness 
on the palm of his hand. Tossing it lightly, it bounced 
once...twice...until it finally rolled to a halt just before the wraith.

	"Take it. You will find that it shall give you some powers that 
you have not held previously." whispered the voice beneath the cowl.

	Without a thought, almost acting instinctively at the command of 
the ominous figure which sat before it, the wraith streched out with a 
part of it's being, absorbing the ball into it's essence. A surge of 
power rushed through it, as if a bolt of lightening had struck a mere 
mortal. With the power came...intelligence!

	The wraith, had it had eyes, would have blinked in surprise and 
gratitude. "Thank you, Master..." it whispered, prostrating itself before 
the figure that had gifted it so generously. "What do you wish of me?"

	And then the Master spoke.

		*********************************

	Rhiannon lounged in a comfortable chair in the conference 
chamber. The Master sat idly, his attention held elsewhere. 

	"You wished to speak with me?" asked Rhiannon, his tone betraying 
his impatience to conduct his own tasks. Sitting and waiting for the 
Master's melodrama sometimes became frusterating. 

	The Master turned his attention to Rhiannon, the faintest aura of 
a rebuke about his attitude. "You have served me well, Rhiannon. And I 
seek to reward those who serve me well."

	"And those who fail you as well, I see." said Rhiannon casually, 
making reference to the wraith the Master had spared.

	"Though your approval is not required of that action I may take, 
I will indulge you this once. That wraith is not intended to survive. 
There is one, known as Lahndo whom the wraiths have investigated on 
numerous occasions. However, none return to give me the information 
require. If this one does not return, then I will have to send a Fiend to 
determine this mortal's intention, and the extent of his power. Jardek 
will serve that duty well."

	"So you don't expect it to survive the encounter?" asked 
Rhiannon, an amused smile flickering at his lips.

	The Master did not respond, turning inward once again.

	Rhiannon frowned, sitting upright in his chair. "What did you 
call me here for, then?"

	The Master turned back to Rhiannon, no sign of irritation evident 
in his demeanor. "As I said. You have served me well. So I give you an 
opportunity you shall not recieve again. You will duel with a Fiend of 
your choice. If you succeed, you shall become Fiend of the Cosmos, of 
equal status and power to those who will become your peers. If you fail, 
you shall die."

	The Master went silent, turning his attention to more important 
matters...and mortals.