Zerm's Handiwork

Fred looked Astra meaningfully. "The mage wouldn't have been Zerrrrm, by any chance?" he asked.

"Yes," Elinor said, sounding sad and angry at once. "I'm from Loden, one of the villages Zerm holds sway over. He demands tribute in the form of one maiden every five years. I was unlucky enough to be selected."

"What doessss he do with these girlsss?" Fred asked.

Elinor shook her head. "No one knows. I spent many days in alone in a little room, eating nothing but some foul-smelling gruel. Then he brought in those men and gave me to them. And before he left, he cast some spell that took my sight. I don't know how long I've been in these woods."

Fred considered the girl's story, Astra motioned for him to talk privately. "Elinorrrr, please sssstay here for a minute- we'll be rrrright back."

"I've nowhere else to go," she said, smiling sadly.

After withdrawing a few feet away, Astra said:

1. "If we can usssse our magic to restorrrrre her ssssight, she might be able to help usss."
2. "We cannot wasssste anymorrrre time here - we mussst continue on ourrr mission for Missssstrress!"
3. "Therrre is much danger herrrre - we must leave, with orrrr without the human!"
4. "Thissss girl is lying - I can ssssmell it!"

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