A Dilemma

They sat in a tranquil, sunlit forest glade. Skye landed on Fred's shoulder. "Aah!" Fred shrieked, batting the bird off of him.

"What's wrong, Fred?" Skye asked, flapping in mid-air. "You're even ruder than usual today."

"Do I know you people?" Fred said, rubbing his forehead. "What the hell am I doing here with a naked girl and a talking bird? For that matter, who the hell am I?"

"Are you serious, Fred?" Tarsa asked, blushing. "You don't remember me or Skye?"

"I've never seen you before in my life! I'm getting out of here." Fred started getting up when suddenly he groaned in pain and fell to his knees.

"Fred! You're hurt!" Tarsa gasped. Fred groaned and keeled over, holding his wound.

Tarsa quickly had him on his back and took off his leather jerkin. His wound had gotten worse - a malignant dark discoloration spreading across the skin. Tarsa put her hands on the injury and whispered something - her hands began to glow with green light, washing over Fred's wound. But as the light faded, his injury had gotten no better.

Fred's eyes were glazed over, and he was mumbling something under his breath. "Moooon Riiiveeeerr..." he suddenly started to sing.

"This is bad." Skye said. "He's feverish. And his singing voice is just atrocious!"

"My healing power won't work on a wound from one of Valmar's weapons." Tarsa said softly. "We've got to get him back to the Temple - they might be able to help him there."

"Well, judging from the foliage." Skye said, alighting on a tree branch. "We should be somewhere in Kavesta Forest. It would take at least a whole day to get back to town."

"What do we do then, Skye?" Tarsa asked worriedly. "Fred won't last that long!"

"Well, there is the legend of the mad witch of Kavesta Forest." Skye said thoughtfully.

"Yes, I remember! She was the High Priestess many years ago. She had powers unparalleled in almost a thousand years. But she disobeyed tradition by fornicating with a Cyran wizard, and after being cast out chose a life of solitude and madness. She may be able to help Fred - but even if we could find her, would she be willing to help us?"

"Well, she may sympathise with you as being in a similar position. And I have a feeling that if we went to look for her she would find us herself. She's probably watching us right now. But the choice is really up to you. If we started out now and got to the Main Road before sundown we might be able to hitch a ride back to the village."

Tarsa decided to...

1. Trek back to town and ask Councillor Suivant for help.
2. Look for the mad witch of Kavesta Forest.

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