Plan B

"Dat's roight," answered the Slasher.

Cecil groaned but Fred only grew angry. "The Listeners?!? We don't have a bloomin cloak & dagger conspiracy here!"

"Dat's what you say," chuckled the Slasher. "You two are staying put until Roybal gits here."

Sister Sharon mumbled something at the name of Roybal, then she excused herself and left the cells. The Slasher left as well, leaving the two prisoners alone.

"How fast can you work yer friggin lockpick?" grunted Fred.

"Freedom is comin' up!" whispered Cecil.

---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ------ ----

Sister Sharon, back at the temple, looked down on a sleeping Tarsa. Another chain-mail garbed priestess strode up to her. "Did you get that geohound?" she whispered.

"The Listeners want him," she answered glumly. "Strange, I was told he was involved in a simple, if brutal, brawl. Why would they want him for that?"

Ignoring the question the other sister said: "Plan B goes into effect... now."

Sharon sighed. Sister Tarsa needed her voice to complete the ceremony to halt the encroaching rebirth of Valmar. Someone or something attacked her and took her voice, the Ceremony of Purging was not enough to heal her. Plan A involved using the geohound Fred to get her voice back. Plan B involved...

"Who is tasked to ride to the hills of Zaphod?" asked Sharon.

"We shall know in ten minutes," answered the other priestess. "Lots are being drawn now."

"Three days ride to those hills," mused Sharon. "At least one day to commune with Pti, and then three more days back."

"We are well aware of the time limits," grumbled the other sister. "You will stay here and watch over that stupid geohound. Whatever befalls him before the Listeners, you are our eyes and ears."

"The Magess Pti..." whispered Sharon.

"Heh," chuckled the other priestess grimly. "That woman's body may be scarred, her mind be broken, but she is the only link we have to the power of the PowderMage."

Sharon shuddered. "I praise Granas that that warlock put his power against Valmar and the Sons of Valmar so long ago, but he is nothing but dust now, a roaming ghost if anything at all."

"And though I find this whole affair quite disagreeable," answered the other sister, "the power held in that spirit may be the only power that can grant our poor Tarsa her voice in time!"

1. and so lots are drawn and a priestess strong of arm and wise rode off towards the hills of Zaphod...
2. meanwhile those responsible for the attack on Tarsa...
3. Fred and Cecil...

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