He opened his eyes.

He was in a small circle of light cast by a torch. Beyond, everything was dark. He had no idea where he was.

“You are in my realm.” A deep, growling voice sounded. He couldn’t see the speaker. “You are in my realm, and soon I will claim you.”

“What? Who are you? Where are you? What is this place?” He strode to the edge of the circle, and walked into an invisible wall at the border of light and dark. “What the... I’m trapped!”

The voice laughed. “Yes, you are trapped, trapped in the light, trapped in the one safety I am bound to give you. I would give it to you anyway. Your fear makes me hungry.”

“Wait a minute! The light! The light keeps you out!”
“Yes, the light protects you. But the torch will not light forever.” The voice sounded eager. “And when it goes, what will save you? What will keep you from my hunger?”

“I will.” A second voice sounded, a woman’s voice, full of courage and youth.

He heard the scrape of metal on metal. Someone, he guessed, had drawn a sword.

“How did you get here?” The first voice was nervous. “How did you pass my wards?”

“Nowhere is impenetrable.” responded the second voice. “There’s always a way in – or out for that matter. You should keep that in mind. Your prisoner could leave.”

“Ridiculous!” scoffed the first voice. “I made this dark with blood and bone, word and wood. Not even Yuhu could escape here.”

“What are you talking about?” he asked. “Who is she? What do you mean, you made this dark? Who’s Yuhu?”
“You cannot know.” The voices sounded in unison. “I’m sorry,” the second one added, “but I’m not allowed to help you directly. All I can do is distract him.”

“And not for very long!” cried the first voice. Suddenly, the sounds of swordplay crashed around the light area. It continued for a while, then there was a slicing noise and silence returned.

“Hello?” he called. “Um, I don’t mean to be rude or something, ma’am, but are you still there? Did you win? Can anyone hear me? Oh, God, did she lose? Is he still here?”

A low, growly laugh echoed throughout the dark. “I guess she lost...” he whispered.

“Yes, she lost!” crowed the voice. “I slit her open and ate her soul, and only kindled my hunger! You shall be a fine meal, all full of fear and defiance. Now I need merely wait, and nature shall serve you to me.”

He shrank away from the edge, suddenly cold. The torch, which had been burning brightly, now seemed to be merely a dying shadow of light. He looked around, desperately trying to find some way to escape, to no avail. Then, at the very edge of the radiance, he saw a tiny glint, like a gem in the sunlight. He felt he needed it, but did not dare to go so close to the darkness.

He gathered all of his meager courage, scurried to the edge and grabbed the glimmer. Instantly, the torch reverted to its former intensity, and the feeling of terror which had so rapidly engulfed him was reduced to a minor nagging at the edge of his consciousness.

He opened his hands, to see what he had found. It was a small emerald, carved into the shape of a draconic feline.

“What is that?” The voice sounded curious. “Did she manage to sneak some small charm or magic, to give you hope? I ... No! Her essence-stone! No wonder she fell so easily, and fearlessly! She has escaped!”

“So this stone gives me protection from you?” His mind reeled at this revelation. Maybe he could escape!

“No, not protection.” It was the woman’s voice, sounding from the stone. “But maybe a way out. You don’t have a lot of time, so pay close attention. You need to put the stone in the torch and say Yuhu Charna Shulduth Chem, zarlein tun Ghthurgar. Hurry!”

He rushed to the torch, dropped the stone in, and started to say the incantation. “Yuhu Charna Shulduth Chem, zarlein tun...” He couldn’t remember the last word.

“Ghthurgar! Ghthurgar! Hurry!” The voice from the stone urged him.

“Ghthurg–” He was interrupted by wild laughter from the first voice. “Ghthurgar!”

A door of light slowly began to coalesce between him and the torch. “Come on, come on!” muttered the woman.

The door creaked open, and the torch went out.