Fred is not sure about this. While he does not think it likely that his new companion is trying to poison him, the thought that what is medicine to her might be poison to him crosses his mind. "Thank you, but I think that I can manage", he replies, taking off his boot to reveal a nasty swelling of his ankle. "And to be honest, I am not sure that what cures you would not kill me." The winged woman looks at him, as if trying to figure out what he meant. Finally, she nods her head, "It should be safe for someone in the drop cycle, but I understand your caution. Please take it; if the pain gets unbearable, it might be your better alternative. We should be safe here for a while. Wallhuggers are territorial, and most of the other creatures give Belboz a wide berth. Their marrow is good eating by the way, if you know how to remove the venom sack. If you don't mind my asking, exactly who are you, and why do think that Belboz sent you to help me with my task?" Fred accepts the pellet, stows it away for future use, and tries to comprehend what she is saying. "I thought that she was sent to help me slay the dragon," he thinks, "and what does she mean by drop cycle? "I was going to ask you the same question," Fred replies, "I am Lord Fred, from the plains to the north. Since anyone could remember, the dragon has ravaged our crops, causing famine and misery, and has kidnapped our people, for who knows what evil purpose. The empty ruins of once great cities on the plains testify to the evil that this dragon has caused. I have been sent by my Sovereign Lord the King to give hope to the people, in a quest to rid our land of the dragon in these caves. I possess a map from a survivor of the last unsuccessful quest, which unfortunately is not very accurate. I thought that a single warrior might succeed where great expeditions have failed. I mean to triumph or die trying. I met the wizard with the great light, asked him to summon a guide, and here you are." "I think that we have heard stories about your people. You work the magic with the plants, right? Are you really capable of great feats of strength?" Fred replies, "We are farmers, and right now I don't feel capable of much." He feels faint from his ordeal, and opens a two liter canteen of water, and takes a couple gulps. He offers her some of the water. His companion takes it, cradling it against her body with her left hand, and takes a couple of sips, handing it back with an effort. "What I have seen is impressive. Your forearms are massive, and you handle that canteen as if it were an empty sack." "She obviously is not built for strength", Fred thinks. "Of course, I can't fly." "Anyway, that's my quest. And you are...?" "Checkers," she replies, spreading her unhurt black wing and shrugging her shoulders. "It is kind of obvious, I guess." Why she was called Checkers was still not obvious to Fred at all. She continued, "My home was at Electric Pass in the Red Dolomite Range, far to the east. My village was in much the same situation as yours, except that being farther off, we do not get raided as much as your people do. I wish that I could say that the hopes of the village rested on me, but, to be honest, I was sent because the Red Dolomite League requires a sacrifice be sent from every city once a year, and it was the turn of Electric Pass this year. "So why did they choose you?" "Well, I hate to admit it, but they usually send someone who is incompetent or a misfit in some way. Sometimes the elders of our village would say to the children, 'get your act together, or you are going to get picked to slay the dragon.' And I see things, uh, in a slightly different way than everyone else, so I was not exactly suprised when I was picked. I prepared by reading as much lore as possible, and explored the forests and caves alone. When the inevitable happened and I was picked, I was ready. The wings of course I couldn't do much about, but I dressed as inconspicously as possible, and studied the map that they gave me to try to work through any obvious dangers. Unfortunately it has been blotted out right in the center. I met the aspiring mage, Belboz, and asked him for someone to help me in my quest. He waved his arms, I saw this bright light, and when I came out of it, you were there." Checkers's story has raised a lot of questions in Fred's mind.
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10/26/2002 11:45:31 PM
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