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Description
Chapter 12

The sun’s first rays of light shone through the dining room as Rayman and Alaesia sat at the table across from Osawen.  As usual, his hell hounds sat beside him, awaiting their master’s command.

“I have written out a list.” Osawen said as he helped himself to a bowl of eggs.  He passed them to Rayman and Alaesia, along with some bacon, pancakes, biscuits, and so on.  “First thing on the list is a mortar and pestle.  I can’t seem to find mine.  You can find one back in the village.  There is a healer there who should have a spare one.

“Then I need water from the Well of Healing.  You should be able to find it at the top of the biggest hill a little farther east from here.  It is surrounded by a cloud of acid rain, so good luck getting to it.

“Third is ice from the Ice Serpent in Frost Lake farther down south.  How you get its ice I don’t care, just make sure to walk away in one piece, or in your case between one and six pieces.

“Fourth is an emerald from the Hammer of Thor.  Wizards guard it in a cave up north.  They won’t let it go easily, nor will it be easy to convince them to let you see it.  This may be your hardest task on the list.

“Next is fire from the volcano northeast from here.  That should explain itself.

“And last, if you follow that path for a few more miles you should find the Naeugh Sea.  A little ways off shore you should find a school of sponge creatures.  Don’t worry if you don’t find them, they’ll find you.  I need a scale from one of them.

“That should do it.  Come back to the castle when you have all these things and I’ll meet you shortly.  But be quick, for time is indeed short for your friend, as the tree told you.”

Once breakfast was over, Rayman and Alaesia were guided out of the castle by a hell hound.  When they walked out the front door, it turned and went back through the house to find its master.

Alaesia looked at the list Osawen had given them.  “Well I guess we should get that mortar and pestle first.  It’s the closest.”

“Alright.” Rayman said.

They headed back to the village and found the healer in an herb shop.  She had green fur with blue stripes and purple spots.  There were black rings around her eyes.

“I sell mortars and pestles here.” She said.  “Twenty shinglots.”

“Uh…we don’t have any shinglots.” Rayman admitted.  “But maybe there’s something we can do for you to earn it.”

“Well…” the healer thought for a moment.  “There is one thing.  I have created a potion to cure the ehsan sickness.  Though it has not been tested.”

“We’ll do it.” Alaesia said.

“Are you sure?  If ehsan is fatal and quick.  If the potion does not work, you could die before I can even make a second one.”

“What exactly does this ehsan do to you?” Rayman wondered.

“You’ll see.” The healer said and pulled a vial from behind the counter.

“You keep that stuff lying around?” Alaesia asked.

“Only until I find a potion that cures it.”  The healer said.  “Now open wide.”

Alaesia opened her mouth and let the healer pour the red liquid in.  She nearly gagged at the taste and forced herself to swallow.  Immediately, she felt nauseous.  Her skin began to take on an unhealthy green color.  She got dizzy and Rayman had to catch her when she fell backwards.  Her head pounded.

“Ugh…” she said weakly.

“Hurry up and give her the cure.” Rayman said.

The healer took out another vial of some green liquid.  She opened Alaesia’s mouth and poured some inside.  Alaesia swallowed the bitter liquid and thought her stomach was going to send it right back up.  She gagged.  Rayman crossed his fingers, hoping the potion worked.

“Looks like it’s working.” The healer said.

Alaesia noticed that the dizziness had faded and so was the nausea.  Soon she was able to stand on her own again.  The potion had worked.

“Alright.” She said.  “Now that we’ve confirmed that the potion works, can you please give us a mortar and pestle?”

“Yes.” The healer reached up to the top shelf and took down a mortar and pestle.  “Just curiosity, what do you need this for?”

“We’re running errands.” Alaesia said.

“Well in that case, take this too.” She produced a back pack form on a hook.  “After trying out the ehsan sickness, you deserve it.”

Alaesia smiled somewhat tiredly as she took the back pack and put the mortar and pestle inside.  “Thanks.” She said and she and Rayman left the shop.

Next they headed east, to the Well of Healing.

Description
Chapter 12

The sun’s first rays of light shone through the dining room as Rayman and Alaesia sat at the table across from Osawen.  As usual, his hell hounds sat beside him, awaiting their master’s command.

“I have written out a list.” Osawen said as he helped himself to a bowl of eggs.  He passed them to Rayman and Alaesia, along with some bacon, pancakes, biscuits, and so on.  “First thing on the list is a mortar and pestle.  I can’t seem to find mine.  You can find one back in the village.  There is a healer there who should have a spare one.

“Then I need water from the Well of Healing.  You should be able to find it at the top of the biggest hill a little farther east from here.  It is surrounded by a cloud of acid rain, so good luck getting to it.

“Third is ice from the Ice Serpent in Frost Lake farther down south.  How you get its ice I don’t care, just make sure to walk away in one piece, or in your case between one and six pieces.

“Fourth is an emerald from the Hammer of Thor.  Wizards guard it in a cave up north.  They won’t let it go easily, nor will it be easy to convince them to let you see it.  This may be your hardest task on the list.

“Next is fire from the volcano northeast from here.  That should explain itself.

“And last, if you follow that path for a few more miles you should find the Naeugh Sea.  A little ways off shore you should find a school of sponge creatures.  Don’t worry if you don’t find them, they’ll find you.  I need a scale from one of them.

“That should do it.  Come back to the castle when you have all these things and I’ll meet you shortly.  But be quick, for time is indeed short for your friend, as the tree told you.”

Once breakfast was over, Rayman and Alaesia were guided out of the castle by a hell hound.  When they walked out the front door, it turned and went back through the house to find its master.

Alaesia looked at the list Osawen had given them.  “Well I guess we should get that mortar and pestle first.  It’s the closest.”

“Alright.” Rayman said.

They headed back to the village and found the healer in an herb shop.  She had green fur with blue stripes and purple spots.  There were black rings around her eyes.

“I sell mortars and pestles here.” She said.  “Twenty shinglots.”

“Uh…we don’t have any shinglots.” Rayman admitted.  “But maybe there’s something we can do for you to earn it.”

“Well…” the healer thought for a moment.  “There is one thing.  I have created a potion to cure the ehsan sickness.  Though it has not been tested.”

“We’ll do it.” Alaesia said.

“Are you sure?  If ehsan is fatal and quick.  If the potion does not work, you could die before I can even make a second one.”

“What exactly does this ehsan do to you?” Rayman wondered.

“You’ll see.” The healer said and pulled a vial from behind the counter.

“You keep that stuff lying around?” Alaesia asked.

“Only until I find a potion that cures it.”  The healer said.  “Now open wide.”

Alaesia opened her mouth and let the healer pour the red liquid in.  She nearly gagged at the taste and forced herself to swallow.  Immediately, she felt nauseous.  Her skin began to take on an unhealthy green color.  She got dizzy and Rayman had to catch her when she fell backwards.  Her head pounded.

“Ugh…” she said weakly.

“Hurry up and give her the cure.” Rayman said.

The healer took out another vial of some green liquid.  She opened Alaesia’s mouth and poured some inside.  Alaesia swallowed the bitter liquid and thought her stomach was going to send it right back up.  She gagged.  Rayman crossed his fingers, hoping the potion worked.

“Looks like it’s working.” The healer said.

Alaesia noticed that the dizziness had faded and so was the nausea.  Soon she was able to stand on her own again.  The potion had worked.

“Alright.” She said.  “Now that we’ve confirmed that the potion works, can you please give us a mortar and pestle?”

“Yes.” The healer reached up to the top shelf and took down a mortar and pestle.  “Just curiosity, what do you need this for?”

“We’re running errands.” Alaesia said.

“Well in that case, take this too.” She produced a back pack form on a hook.  “After trying out the ehsan sickness, you deserve it.”

Alaesia smiled somewhat tiredly as she took the back pack and put the mortar and pestle inside.  “Thanks.” She said and she and Rayman left the shop.

Next they headed east, to the Well of Healing.