Arrows soared through the air, slicing through the desert breeze with deadly accuracy. Chatkchas spun towards their intended targets, while those elves not engaged in melee combat with the thri-kreen unleashed volley upon volley of arrows at the mantis warriors. Everywhere around them, thri-kreen fell victim to the elven onslaught, their insectoid forms torn apart by the relentless barrage of arrows. Any elf unfortunate enough to come within reach of the kreen's melee range was ripped apart by the ferocious claws and gythkas of their enemies. The sand dunes had turned into a slaughter ground of elves and thri-kreen warriors, but the elves held the upper hand through their sheer strength in numbers.

Finally, the last thri-kreen fell as a dozen elven arrows pierced its chitin, and the mantis warrior sank to its knees before collapsing in the red-tainted sands. The elves cried out in triumph as victory was achieved.

Now, the attention of the elves turned to the group. They found themselves surrounded, with eager elven voices whispering on top of the dunes about the most interesting ways to dispatch them.

The elven leader gazed down upon them with discontent, her gaze shifting from the fallen comrades to the slaughtered kreen amidst which the group stood. Raising her hand, she silenced the murmurs of her warriors before addressing the group in a cold tone.

"I can order your deaths with a single word or motion of my wrist," she declared. "However, you have freed me from my debt to the one called Nadar. For that, I will spare your lives. Leave by the road you came. Take nothing with you from the fallen, for what they carry is compensation for my warriors who died today. Do not look back before the sun sets beyond the mountains to the west."

With a sense of relief, the group gathered the body of Tectilith and their prisoner Thaxos, and hastily made their escape along the road they had traveled, mindful not to take anything from the fallen as they departed, as instructed by the elven leader.

After a long chase with no rest, they finally caught up to their quarry. Both groups spotted each other from far away. Thaxos was with Derlan, the assassin who rained arrows down upon the group. Thaxos cowered, and Rexar fled briefly in panic. Meanwhile, the rest of the group closed the distance, determined to apprehend their targets.

Derlan attempted to flee, dropping his bow and a burlap sack in his haste. Mario paused to pick up the dropped bag, only to be attacked by four golden scorpions that emerged from within. Derlan managed to flee down a nearby canyon, utilizing his magical slippers to aid his escape. However, Magnamus quickly summoned his giant owl and gave chase, determined to catch the fleeing assassin.

As Derlan ran up the far side of the canyon, T'Taka hurled more chatka at him, aiming to impede his progress. Just as Derlan reached the top, a final well-aimed throw from T'Taka brought him down, permanently ending the pursuit.

With troops looming on the horizon, the group wonders if the Vordon patriarch has somehow managed to summon his own forces. However, upon closer inspection, they realize that the approaching troops bear the flag of the city - it is the Tyrian guard, led by Captain Zalcor. A welcome sight amidst the desert wastes, Zalcor rides ahead of his troops and orders them to halt. He then advances to greet the group and inspect their quarry.

"I knew you would succeed, my brave friends," Zalcor declares, addressing the group. Turning his attention to Thaxos, he adds, "Tell me, Lord Thaxos, how does it feel to know your plans have been foiled as your life nears its end?" However, the wrinkled old man offers no reply, only meeting Zalcor's gaze with a stoic expression.

Suddenly, Zalcor's demeanor changes. With lightning-quick reflexes, he draws his sword and slashes across Thaxos's chest, leaving a red trail. "Don’t even think about using your telepathic powers on me, old man," Zalcor warns, his voice tinged with a steely resolve. He then orders his guards to restrain Thaxos and administer the punishment of the agony beetle, a fate that many of Thaxos's former enemies have endured.

Thaxos is quickly restrained by Zalcor's men, and a cage filled with numerous specimens of the infamous agony beetle is brought forth. The old tradelord's agonizing screams soon fill the air, echoing across the dunes as the group turns away, their task now completed. Thaxos Vordon will be brought back to Tyr and convicted in the courts of law.