Wisewoman of Kavesta Forest

"Right!" Tarsa said. The woman took Fred's shoulders and Tarsa held his legs. With a "One, two, three!" they picked him up. Tarsa struggled for a second before getting a good grip. The Geohound was heavier than he looked.

"I feel sick." Fred was saying. He looked into Tarsa's eyes. "Where am I? Are you an angel?"

Tarsa blushed.

"If so, I don't need any help from your kind!" Fred continued. "I can take care of myself without some God watching my every move. Put me down!"

Then he groaned and lapsed into unconsciousness. Tarsa and the woman hurriedly carried him through the forest. Skye followed close behind, holding Fred's Geoblade in his claws.

"So... um... how long have you lived here in the forest, maam?" Tarsa eventually dared to ask.

"Save your breath, child. The less you speak the better." the woman said.

"Right. Sorry."

By the time they got to a thatch-roof cottage in the depths of the forest Tarsa felt like she was going to pass out. To her relief, the woman stopped inside in front of a roaring fireplace, and they lowered Fred on the count of three. Tarsa wiped the sweat from her face and looked around. The cottage was sparsely decorated, with herbs hanging from the ceiling, some furs for bedding, and a wooden chest in one corner. There was nothing in particular to show that this home belonged to a mighty former High Priestess, except a general sense of strength and majesty that seemed to radiate from everything there.

"Is he going to be allright?" Tarsa asked, sitting down on her heels beside Fred. "He saved my life. I don't know what I would do if..."

"That depends." the woman said. She rummaged in the chest to pull out a small metal pot and some bags of herbs. Setting them down she took out a small brown peasant's dress and threw it to Tarsa. "That should fit you."

Tarsa dressed quickly as the woman set some water to boil and began sprinkling herbs into the pot. "Valmar's power kills all it touches. Right now Fred is fighting for his life in a world of nightmare, where his own darkness and evil are his worst enemy. Saving him will require a continuous effort on our part, and whether it works or not really depends on the strength of the light and goodness within his own soul."

"I'd say he's in big trouble then!" Skye quipped.

"Bird, if you talk again you'll find yourself stuffed and mounted on my fireplace." the woman said, and Skye shut up, morosely retracting his head into his shoulders.

Hours passed as Tarsa and the woman worked ceaselessly, using all of their healing power over Fred.

1. Eventually Fred woke up. "Hey... Tarsa! Where am I? Who's the old broad?"
2. But Fred remained unconscious. "There is one option left to us." the woman said. "You must link psychically to his mind and help him escape from the darkness. But it may cost you your life."

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