Harker now found himself on his way to the Meridell Dungeons, far below the Castle of King Skarl. He passed the King’ treasurer – tossing large silver coins into the air with a toothy grin – and several magicians gathered around a bubbling beaker. One particularly handsome Lupe – an apprentice judging by his youthful looks – leaned too close to the beaker and inhaled some of the steam up his nose, which promptly grew treble its ordinary size. The Lupe gave a loud shriek and the red Draik beside him hooted with laughter, nearly knocking over the beaker in his amusement. Their teachers – one Zafara that Harker vaguely recognised as the potion-maker called Kayla, and the other a yellow Aisha – simultaneously gave their apprentices each a hefty whack on the upside of their heads.