"That man was Radek," Sukander Besar said, gazing at the corpse with sad dark eyes, "He will be missed by his mother."

"And few others I suspect," Calliope replied callously, "though if you would like I can raise his corpse and send him home." The mystic gave a sad and world weary sigh but did not rise to the bait. He shambled to the edge of the cell to better regard them, thin almost skeletal, hand gripping the bars.

"Poor Radek has died so that you may speak to me," he said, "I encourage you to speak before his brethren compel you to kill them also."

Calliope produced the strange map and thrust it through the bars at the man. Sukander took it and examined it without speaking.

"Do you know what it is?" Calliope asked, "The Seven Princes seemed willing enough to kill me for it." Sukander sighed again. Calliope had the impression the mystic found much to sigh about.

"They are even more cavalier about death than you I fear, though for lesser reason," he replied, turning the paper slightly to gaze at its strange markings.

"These are the runes of Ak-Set," Sukander said, "A great kingdom that flourished on these sands thousands of years ago."

"And what do they say," Calliope asked eagerly. Sukander smiled wanly.

"There are none living who can read the runes of Ak-Set," he replied, then held up his hands to forestall objections.

"Fortunately, or unfortunately, there are devices which can read them, seeing crystals of great power," he explained.

"One may be found in the house of Maza-dan Sheref, one of the Princes so eager to take your life," Sukander went on. Calliope nodded in understanding.

"And what is your price for this information, shall I free you from prison?" she asked. Sukander bowed his head.

"Do as you think best, but remember, it is but my body which is imprisoned, not my mind. I fear for you it is the other way around." Calliope pondered his words for long seconds, struck by their unexpected weight. Then she reached out and touched the bars. The metal seemed to darken, then flake, and within moments collapsed into rusted powder. 

"Go then Sukander Besar, and your gods go with you," Calliope told him, then turned and walked back the way the dead Radek had brought them.