| Carradene sighs as he looks around at the trinkets he had been able
to scrounge up to try to recreate some decent spell focuses and talismans.
What he had to do to examine Fred's unexpected friends had nearly taxed
all his resources. The old wolf sighs, and is thankful that even after
decades of disuse, he had still been able to magically examine the humans
to determine what he had. It spoke of the dedication he had put into his
Arte, before the onset of the family "inheritance" had set in.
It had come upon him with little warning. He had known that Algrado's
syndrome ran in his family, and hoped that he would have been spared the
premature senility, but he hadn't........ He had wondered off from his
caretakers (he still couldn't remember WHY exactly.....). Eventually, Minestus
had stumbled across him, and for some reason had . . . . . taken him and
put him on that island. He had awoken a day latter, clear headed for the
first time in months. He hated Minestus and Moreau, true enough, but he
did NOT want to return to life as a human. Knowing what he knew about the
Syndrome, in his seventies . . . . he'd be little more than a vegetable
at this point in his life without the lycanthropy.
Suddenly, the innocent looking necklace's stone that he was wearing
grew warm against his grey furred neck. He blinks, put down the trinket
he had been fiddling with unsuccessfully, and answered Fred's call.
"Carradene, we found something strange here." whispers Fred as the magical
picture focuses on a plush office room. The other members of the exploratory
team are looking warily around the room. "We're in the Mayor's residencia.
We found the city a carnal house, as expected, but . . . . the Mayor's
house is something else. There are no bodies in here, and there's no trace
of the rot of death in here."
"Sir, that's not the only thing." Pall says in a low, rumbling whisper.
"Haven't you noticed that it's . . . . pretty cool in here?"
Fred blinks. It was true. He had grown comfortable with the tropical
heat (strange . . . . considering the tropical climate) but it was VERY
true . . . . the room was noticably cooler than the outside.
"That . . . is strange." mutters Carradene, ears perking up in curiosity.
"It's true that environmental spells can cool a house. Very popular for
down here, but . . . it's hideously expensive and has to be renewed WEEKLY!
That house shouldn't be cool after all this time. Somebody is there. I'd
be VERY careful out there if I were you, Fred."
"Noted and appreciated." Fred says. "While I have you on the line I
and my friends have come up with a few more disturbing questions. I'm going
to tell you about them, before something prevents it."
"Hmm." Carradene mutters. "Well, I'm not sure about all that, but go
ahead."
Fred tells about the incidents of the last full moon. Pall and Carraden
blink at the story. And they relate similar stories. The humans look back
at the werefolk, not sure what to make of all of this. Then Carradene says
that he'll get in contact with some . . . . friends and get back to Fred
on that.
"Oh, before you go, how is the 'weather' on the island." Alicia asks.
"Same as before?"
"Same as before." Carradene sighs. "Groups are still wanting to do this
and that. One group just wants to stay on the island and live an isolated
life. Another, like Pall, wants to go out and hunt down Minestus. Others
want to go back to their homelands, but at least they are reasonable enough
to know that without a cure for their condition, they'd be hunted down
by their country folk. They will follow Fred's lead, though. Getting them
off the island, and the actions that have happened afterwards make them
trust him as a leader."
"Glad to hear it," mutters Fred. "Get in touch with your friend, out."
|
