| The elders moved far enough away from the door to ensure that they
could not be overheard by Fred and Astra. Then they conferred. "I confess
that I don't know what to make of this," Ringroot said. "Whatever else
they might be, they are clearly not werecreatures." "Is it possible that
we have a new kind of lycanthropy here?" an elder called Quince asked.
"One where the victim's form is stable rather than dependant on the phase
of the moon? On their own admission, this dragoness Malachi told them they
were lycanthropes. She might have lied, I suppose, but to me it seems clear
that the female must have infected the male. This theory could tie in with
the rumours we have heard about what Minestus was working on. We had assumed
that if he could change a member of one Race into another it would be done
solely by means of magic, but perhaps once initiated it could then be spread
in a similar fashion to traditional lycanthropy? This might also tie in
with the rumours concerning Moreau, if the assumption we have been making
that lycanthropy must be tied to the moon is incorrect. That would mean
that Synizn is wrong - or lying - of course, but that should not surprise
us."
Another of the elders - Hanfast - spoke: "Perhaps we can test your theory.
One of the advantages of Walants is that almost anything can be obtained
for money. I dare say that, for a modest bribe in the right quarters, some
poor wretch from the condemned cell can be obtained. Then we will see what
the effect is on him of a bite from one of our prisoners - preferably the
woman, since it was she who infected the man and also from her appearance
she seems to have undergone the greater degree of transformation. Or we
could take some of her saliva or blood, and force the man to swallow it,
for I assume that any sort of transfer of bodily fluid would do. Since
our male prisoner supposedly transformed within a matter of hours, we should
get a result fairly quickly.
"Assuming that the victim changes, then we will still not know whether
the Folke are at any risk of being infected by this new form of lycanthropy,
of course. But at least we will know for sure that our two prisoners can
never be let go free, for if they should infect other humans then our people
would be sure to be blamed, and we would be hunted down. If released, our
prisoners might not go around biting people, but it would be unrealistic
to assume that they would totally abstain from sex with anyone but each
other. Especially as we know that the female, at least, is subject to going
into heat. And no doubt her cubs would also bear the same curse."
"What do you make of this so-called Crystallic?" Quince asked. "Do you
think that there is any hope of curing them with it?" "I'd be very surprised
if it had the powers claimed for it," Ringroot said. "That is perhaps just
as well, since anything that powerful would be rather alarming. But since
it was found in a dragon's hoard, we can't dismiss it out of hand. As I
told them, [14122] I'd like to get the opinion of a trustworthy mage on
it - though such are hard to find in Walants."
When the discussion had finished, Ringroot went back to speak to Fred
and Astra.
-
 "I am sorry,"
he said, "but for the time being you must continue to be our guests."
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