Finding and Returning the Ring

Astra climbed in first, slowly as rock the boat as little as possible. She bent down to pick up the oars. Fred soon followed suit, stowing their supplies as firmly as he could. He took an oar from Astra, who then carefully untied the boat so they could set off. As the river wasn't that wide, it didn't take too long for them to get across. There didn't appear to be any undergrowth they could secure the boat to, though there was a place a little further upstream where the river bank was at a gentle enough slant for them to able to partially pull the boat out of the water and not have to worry about it sliding back down.

Finding the route they had taken wasn't too hard and from there to the river's bend they searched for the ring, having to go extra careful with some of the more pricklier foliage.

It was Fred who eventually found it, and moved out of the way for Astra to pick it up, and she did after some slight hesitation. She had no need to worry. Anbana had been right. And so they set off, Astra taking the lead. Now and then she would glance at the ring she was now wearing again almost as if she was expecting it to jump off her finger and bite her on the nose.

Soon they had reached the shore of the lake and Astra gave an involuntary shudder at the thought of entering the Empty Lands again. Since there was no discernable change in their jungle surroundings between the two areas, their only cue was still the aural one.

Sure enough, the lively jungle was replaced by the quieter, insect-filled one. The sudden transition from one to the other still came as a surprise, though they were expecting it. The statues were still a few miles further on, so they stopped for a drink before continuing. Upon reaching the burial place of the former village leader, they split up in order to search the surrounding area.

It was Astra who discovered the small cairn of stones still intact. She called Fred over, and they started the rather distasteful task of digging up the grave.

The explorer's grave was right next to the spot where he had fallen. After the body had been looted, they dug his grave next to him and simply pushed him in, before covering him up again. The cairn was placed simply as they felt every grave they dug should have a marker, regardless of whose it was.

After a time they had uncovered most of the explorer's skeleton. They noticed that the skull had been fractured as had several ribs. Also one of the upper arm bones appeared to be broken.

Astra removed the ring before gently placing it on the skeleton's right index finger, seeing how that was her finger on which the ring had appeared.

1. "There, hopefully that should do it," she said before gasping. "My lisp has gone!" she exclaimed.
2. "There, hopefully that thhould do it. "She frowned. "I wath hoping that would reverthe the ringth curth."
3. Upon doing that, it seemed a great weight had been lifted from the jungle.

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