Bad News, but a Decent Plan

"I have some bad news," continued Walter. "Reaibn has, as I am sure you know, the Eye of Hayzus. This is a worst case scenario. A madman sorcerer, thats bad. A madman sorcerer with almost limitless power in a contained area, that's beyond worse. His powers should have no problem penetrating here, which means he is restraining himself for some reason. He could have just turned me into a potted plant or caused the two of you to reappear back at the castle."

Fred and Astra look at each other, then back at Walter. "What game is he playing at?" said Astra, and Fred voiced his agreement.

"I do not know," replied Walter, finishing up the ointment with a gout of green flame. "For some reason, he is choosing to only afflict you with inconveniences and place obstacles in your way, as if to see how you overcome them. You are likely, the more I think about it, a curiosity to him."

"You must ride," said Bartholomew. "After Walter heals your sores, I will give you my fastest horses. Ride like the wind towards Aqualaria. Hope that this curiosity that Lord Reaibn has towards you continues. There is yet hope, I think."

Walter nodded, bringing the ointment over and beginning to apply it to Astra first. "I think that is the best possible plan. And I know that Reaibn is still amused as of this moment, for I blocked this place from magical sight and hearing and he has had his awareness hovering outside since the fight. He could shatter my spell like a thin layer of ice, yet he does not."

Upon the ointment touching the sore, Astra felt a sharp lance of pain, followed by a soothing numbness. Walter treated her and Fred, and they discussed their plan. Bartholomew left to get the horses. After all the sores had been treated, Walter gave them a supply of ointment to take with them and touched them both on the shoulder, kindly.

"One more thing," he said. "I knew Reaibn before. He was not an evil man. But the Eye is evil. It is a dark thing. It is twisting and perverting the man I once knew. Yet, I feel, he has some good left in his heart. If the day comes, and you ever have the choice, I would ask you to spare his life if possible. This was not his fault, he was a simple man who just fell prey to curiosity." He then made some tea. Fred and Astra had a cup while waiting on Bartholomew's return. Meanwhile, their sores dried up and vanished.

1. Bartholomew returns with the horses, and Fred and Astra take off like the wind.
2. An hour later, Bartholomew has still not returned with the horses, and Fred and Astra go to check on him.
3. The tea Fred and Astra were drinking was drugged. "I am sorry," said Walter, as they fell into a sound sleep. He then moves forward with his own, secret, plan.
4. Meanwhile, Ol Roy and Reaibn were having a "chat"
5. Meanwhile, in Vjorica
6. Meanwhile, in a darkened alley, an unlikely ally prepares to make themselves known.

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