Elaine's Next Move

That was when she noticed that she was on fire. And yet the flames of constantly shifting color that consumed her didn't seem to be burning her. Still, for some reason she didn't want to look like this if there was anyone here to see her. Maybe there was something in Belboz's memories that would help her control the dragon-flame. The memories held in the ring came swiftly to her mind and she found the words for a spell that would diminish the dragon-flame until she needed it. Yet she was very troubled as she spoke those words. Mages often wove their spells in archaic languages to give them greater power and keep them from being too easily learned by those who are not ready. This spell was in her own tongue.

So what would she do now? There was no question of going back to Matthias and his friends. That idiot didn't deserve her help. The others who had aided him seemed able to survive just fine on their own even after the spell Belboz cast on Astra. The Dragonslayer and the warrior princess would find a way out, their kind always did. And as for that witch Adele...

At the thought of Adele Elaine was horrified to feel some tenderness, even relief that she was still alive. She had a vague sense of memories of seeing her as a little girl learning the difficult art of magic. Elaine shoved aside those memories with disgust. Obviously they came from Belboz. Just how deeply had that necromancer gotten into her?

Perhaps Belboz had left something behind that would explain his enchantments. Necromancers always had laboratories filled with all sorts of hideous potions and spells. Perhaps he'd even kept a diary--he was egotistical enough to do it. And so Elaine teleported herself into Belboz's lab, somewhat startled that she could do it without saying any words.

1. Elaine does indeed see some sort of diary in the lab. She examines it and tries to learn about the ring.
2. Elaine doesn't see any diary at first glance, but she does see some sort of huge machine with test tubes and gears, with sigils that were ancient even in her time engraved on it. She tries to remember what it was for.
3. Elaine sees she isn't alone in the lab. Some sort of hunchbacked revenant is dusting the shelves.
4. Meanwhile, what about Fred, Adele and the rest?

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