The Healing Touch [Alternate Version]

The Never Ending Quest - Episode 27796

"Well, I rejoice in the idea of more companions," says Fred. "However, it may be a few days before we are ready to go. Checkers' wing is hurt, so she cannot fly, and my foot has been bothering me since the wallhugger fight."

"That is too bad," answers Belboz, with gentle sympathy. "I am not a healer, but perhaps I can help. Please let me see what I have." The old man walks over to a recessed area in the stone walls, and chants an sing- song incantation in the common language. He pulls out a pamphlet, a little larger than the palm of his hand.

"My memory is not as good as used to be. I think that there was something in this pamphlet," Belboz states. After a few minutes of leafing through the pamphlet, he stops at a section. "'Quickening the healing process.' That sounds about right. There are a couple of ways to enact the spell. Has either of you ever performed any magic? It would make it so much easier on me if you have."

Both Fred and Checkers shake their heads. Several of the Champions arch their eyebrows.

"Are you sure? I feel that at least one of you has some latent ability." A dark expression comes over him as he glares at Jenny, but it quickly fades as he turns his attention back to the others. The question of who broke Astra's chains is still a thorn in his mind. The miserable little elf called Jenny is a likely candidate, but Minestus is a cautious and methodical dragon. This little glider is still something special...

"Latent?" asks Fred.

"That means hidden", Belboz replies. "Maybe there is some ability that you do not know about. I would love to test for it. Later perhaps. Let us try the second method, 'Healing by an Outside Agency', which would be me. The spell calls for some magic herbs, a little bit of blood from the person to be healed, and 'an outside agent that is pure in heart.' Do you trust me, Fred?"

This is an awkward question. Belboz seems to be benevolent (though his magic has been undone twice now), but there is something odd about his manner. Fred cannot quite put his finger on it. Still, as he has trusted him this far, it would be worse to show distrust and arouse any suspicions now.

"You have not done me wrong yet. Certainly, I shall trust you, Belboz."

"Excellent." Belboz reaches into the dias holding the tome, and chooses two blackened bottles. "This is wintergreen," Belboz declares as he place a bit into the hollow of a small stone mortar. Belboz asks Fred for his sword. He gently cuts Fred on his left thumb, and a dark red drop of blood wells up. He scrapes the blood into the mortar, with a stone pestel. He then opens the second bottle, and pours some small green seeds into the mortar. Then finally, he asks Fred to go down into the cavern to fetch a bucket of mushrooms that he left there.

Fred comes back with the bucket of mushrooms. Belboz places one in the mortar, and grinds it, and the seeds, blood, and wintergreen, with a pestle. "Fred, eat the mixture."

  1. The Champions, having never witnessed magic quite like this, are wary of Fred ingesting the substance Belboz has given him.

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Ib - HEAVILY excerpted from Anableps' 22601- Sorry Anableps! I couldn't help myself.

5/18/2003 8:46:28 AM

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