It was quite a warm day considering it was Autumn and since his foot was aching, Pampas knew the good weather wouldn't have lasted long. The two young trainees were eager to leave for a patrol; it was midday and Pampas felt their hard work during the morning deserved a special reward. He would have not led them in one of the boring duties along the east road or to the Empath Abbey: he would have taken them to Shame, the lair of the elementals of all kind.

Standing in front of the tower, he watched the trainees pondering; Gabor was well known to him, since he had worked with Pampas often that week, while Crowny was quite a new face: Pampas wanted to see how they would have fared against the hostile creatures of that cave, as even the lesser beasts there were much more valiant than the orcs of the woods.

When Sergeant Rhodry came out of Stonekeep gates, and heard about the patrol, he agreed with the proposal of the old guard. The Officier warned the men to follow Pampas orders, for his experience would have not failed in taking them back alive.

Hearing those words, Pampas felt the pride of the Sergeant trust, and he forgot the pain to his lame foot. Marching in front of them he took the trainees to the entrance of the cave; the lads' armours glittered under the sun light, as he gave the last advices to them. His heart was light as he walked in the cave, and even when darkness started surrounding them, he felt sure no beast in there could have had reason of the Militia. Swinging their weapons the three guards easily slew the earth spirits who dared crossing their path, recovering many gems from their shattered bodies; everything was under control, thought Pampas, as he ordered his men thru the gray portal to the second level of the dungeon.

And even there, the militiamen quickly took the bridge over the Shame river, among the hisses of the air elementals vanishing and the booms of the ore ones.

"Get those sea serpents, lads" the old one ordered, excited in the heat of battle. Every creature was falling in front of them, as Gabor and Crowny were fighting as seasoned guards, bravely upholding the Militia reputation.

Yet the years had not tought all to Pampas: for in Shame lurked a creature too powerful for three men like them.

A cry came from behind a rock; Pampas turned from the wind spirit he was bashing, and saw Crowny kneeling on the ground.

"What's wrong, Trainee?" the guard asked.

"Sir..." Crowny answered "that shout came from Gabor..."

Pampas realized Crowny was well and collecting a pile of gold from the ground, and run hobbling along further down the cave to find the other recruit.

The sight Pampas was faced made the blood freeze in his veins.

Gabor had procedeed along the cave alone and was now lying on the rocks senseless and bleeding; over him, blue tentacles were whirling in the air, ready to deliver the final blow.

"Gabor!" Pampas cried attacking the Kraken, the smell of the creature filling his nostrils "Crowny, here!"

Pampas fought at his best, helped by his fellow, dodging and parrying the tentacle blows directed to him. Brave he was feeling, yet that was nothing more than a foolish act.

Pampas felt a powerful blow at his chest, then one at his head, and fell on the ground, with blood spilling from his mouth. He saw Crowny running away, helped by a knight on horse, and shadows fell on him.

He felt the hard cave floor on his face, and opened his eyes. Slowly memories of the happenings came back to him, and stumbling he stood up. There was no sign of the trainees, and the corpse of the Kraken was not far from him.

"Crowny!" he shouted "Gabor! Where be ye?"

No one answered; but after a while, the air elemental hisses came again to his ear. Disarmed and stealthy, Pampas walked limping back to the woods, avoiding any encounter. He rested in the cave amidst Shame pass, recovering, his thoughts going to the lost trainees. At last he stood, and walked back to Middlewood, afraid of reporting to his superiors about the patrol end. The sun was falling, when he entered his tower, and he decided to sit and eat something. He reached for a bottle of wine, and he drank all of it.