"Gone?" The Interrogator glared at the Executioner in disbelief. "What do you mean, she's gone?"

The Executioner shrugged helplessly. He could not explain what he did not understand. The last thing he remembered was being sent after the woman. He had gone to the dungeon, the key to her cell in his hand. After that, he remembered nothing until he woke, lying on the bed in her cell. Heart pounding with dread, he had hurried to find the Interrogator, curious to learn what had happened to the woman while he had been unconscious.

The Interrogator paced the floor, his brow furrowed in an angry frown. "When I left you, she was securely bound. How did she get away?"

"When you left me, my lord?" the Executioner queried.

"Yes, you idiot! This evening, in the interrogation chamber, I told you to dispose of her, but not too quickly. Don't you remember?"

"Nay, my lord."

A wordless cry of frustration rose in the Interrogator's throat. "Start from the beginning," he said, taking a deep, calming breath. "What do you remember?"

"I remember being told to bring the woman to the interrogation chamber."

"Yes, yes, go on."

The Executioner shook his head. "I went to the dungeon and then . . ." He shrugged again, his hand massaging the large lump on the back of his head. "The next thing I knew, I was lying on the cot in her cell and she was gone."

"That's impossible! You were here, in this room. I saw you. . . ." The Interrogator swore a vile oath. "Hardane! It had to be Hardane."

The Executioner looked bewildered. "My lord?"

"He took on your shape, you fool!" The Interrogator dragged a hand across his jaw, his expression thoughtful as he stared out the window. "So, we had the right woman, after all. I hold you responsible for this," he said, whirling around to face the Executioner.

"But my lord-"

"You will never fail me again," the Interrogator said curtly. "You are hereby banished to the Isle of Klannaad."

"No! My lord, please, I beg of you. I've served you well, done all you ever asked of me."

"It is done. You leave on the morrow. Pray I never see your face again."

Heavy shoulders slumped in despair, the Executioner left the Interrogator's chambers.

Banished to the Isle of Klannaad. It was a sentence of living death.