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Rio came to, slowly. He was lying flat on his back, wrapped in damp robes, in what appeared to be a cavern. Sitting up slowly, he reached for a pitcher of water next to him, and drank thirstily. Putting it back, he saw his clothes, folded neatly on a small table. Dressing, he discovered that they had been washed, and he wondered what had happened since he collapsed.
Just then, Bastard came in. “Hello! We thought you’d never wake!” he said cheerfully. Behind him stepped someone that Rio at first took for Radagast, but as he approached he saw that it wasn’t. There was a strong resemblance there, though, and he was about to ask, when the stranger spoke first. “Yes, I’m his brother,” he said, with a rueful grin. “Black sheep o’ the family is old Radagast. Bubbe nearly went meshuggah when she heard that he had run away to Hel’s Heim. If it wasn’t for that extra haggis we had, she’d have gone after him, too!” “Sorry,” Rio said, confused. “What’s a Bubbe? And what does ‘meshuggah’ mean?” “Och, ye’ll learn all about it! Come and meet the others, you look more than fit enough!”
Bemused, Rio followed the stranger (“me name’s Norris, by the way!”) and Bastard out of the cavern, and into a much larger chamber. It was full of people, young and old. They all went quiet when Rio walked in, staring at him curiously. “Hey, Norris, who’s ya friend, then?” called one. He had a huge ginger beard, and a large black skullcap covered his head. “Ooh, his name’s Rio. He’s a friend of Radagast’s.” “Och, grand,” came the reply, and he carried on whittling a bit of wood. “That’s Big Yankel MacDougal,” whispered Norris to Rio. “Bit loud, but a nice chap once ya get to know him.” He continued on, up to an old woman who sat in a chair. “Bubbe, this is a pal o’Radagast’s. His name’s Rio,” he said loudly. She stirred sleepily, and looked at him with bright eyes. “Farvoss is der goyishes in der bayis?” she demanded. “Und vere ist der kugel und haggis? Ich bin farmisht!” “Bubbe, Rio ist der chavrusa of Radagast!” pled Norris in the same strange language. She waved a hand at him, and leant forwards to examine Rio more closely.
“So, child,” she said kindly, in a heavily accented voice, “you are feeling a bisul better after your long journey, yes?” “Yes, thank you,” said Rio cautiously. “At least it was bought up like a human being, not like your brother,” she muttered at Norris, who hung his head. “Umm, where is Radagast?” asked Rio. “I can’t see him here…” Bubbe sighed, and looked at Norris, who after bowing to Bubbe, took Rio’s arm and led him towards a heavy door. He opened it, and there came a terrible cry. Rio looked at Norris in shock. “Yes,” he said sadly. “It has begun…”
*
Iyzor collapsed onto his bed. He was utterly exhausted after the session with the Phat Maestro, who simply would not listen to reason and accept that his cause was a lost one. He had to resort to violence in the end, grabbing a sword from the guard and cutting off one of the monster’s tentacles. Hearing a cough, he looked up to see Noodles standing by the door. “Begging your pardon, Wizard Lord, but I’ve had an idea.” “Well, go on, go on!” said Iyzor impatiently. He was in no mood for anything at the moment but sleep, as he hadn’t rested since the headless corpse of the Holy Terr’r had been discovered. “Well, I thought, if the Princess Carnif’x needs the kiss of a princess to recover from the curse, couldn’t we ask Queen Vikie to help? She used to be a Princess, after all!” Iyzor sat up slowly, as he pondered. Yes, it just might work! “Where is the Queen now?” he asked. “She’s resting in her chambers, in anticipation of the Grand Ball tonight, Wizard Lord.” “Send a messenger up, and ask her to meet us by the Princess Carnif’x’s Chambers. If the True Gods are smiling upon us, this might just work!”
*
Strapped to a bed in the centre of the cavern lay Radagast. His eyes were back in his head, and he strained at his bonds, as he screamed. A very small elderly woman mopped his brow, nimbly dodging as his head thrashed. “It’s only the bloody drugs, isn’t it?” she said in a fast, squeaky voice. “I’m his Ma, by the way.” Rio stepped closer, and quietly called Radagast’s name, but either he couldn’t hear, or he wasn’t listening. “Nothing any of us can do now, ‘cept pray to the True Gods that he’ll get healed proper,” she said, laying a hand on Rio’s arm. “How long will it take?” he asked shakily. “Could be hours, could be weeks. No-one knows,” she replied sadly. “He might even die in the process…”
To be continued…
Last edited by Goat on Sun May 28, 2006 6:14 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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