Back to Chapter 14 - - -
Back to the Beginning
As Missy Hissy stepped out from the Boogre Cave, she thought about the long walk back to Ishad N'ha-ha-ha and groaned. "As if I weren't sore enough," she muttered, "now I have to walk half-a-day's journey to town." As she started to head down the trail, she remembered the latest spells of the night she had learned. Perhaps it was time to see if they worked.... and without further ado, she created a portal near the Boogre Cave entrance. She moved several paces off and tried teleporting to it... it worked, and on the first try, yet. "I love it when magic works. And when it doesn't, I love my sword, spear, and staff."
Trying another new spell, Missy called home and saw the stars in the sky around her turn blurry, then fade into the mystic daylight of Ishad N'ha.
She wasn't sure what surprised people more -- the sight of a Boogre walking through the town, or the sight of a Boogre simply materializing in the middle of the town square. She could see their unspoken thoughts written in their faces.... mothers suddenly remembering their children had homework, youngsters suddenly remembering that they had someone important to see somewhere... anywhere... else. As she strode down the village streets, her heart ached. She hadn't felt this alone and outcast since she'd left town after her father had been murdered by Scanthril.
With tears stinging the corners of her eyes, she knew that she couldn't go just anywhere. She strode into the armory, throwing open the door and blocking most of the wizard-generated daylight from the town square.
"Whatcha want?" asked the guildmaster as he struggled to identify the new customer who had just come in. "Armor, weapons, we got the best..."
"Enough of the prattle," said Missy, hardening her heart to protect it. "It's me, Missy Hissy, though I may not look like it."
The guildmaster looked her up and down. "So ya sez, but I canna be sure. How can ya prove it to me?"
Missy leaned down with her enchanted katana in her green muscular paw. "You've got your choice. Either recognize the equipment I've bought from you and had you identify, or watch me practice my swordstrokes on your scrawny carcass with the sword techniques that you taught me."
Feeling a brief shiver run down her spine, Missy stopped and let him go. "Ah, never mind. Been Boogreized for less than a day, and I'm already pickin' up their manners. Look, ask me anything about what you and I have done, and I'll answer correctly, or else ya can spit my for the barbecue, like the orcs would have done with my remains had Erathsmedor caught me."
The guildmaster stepped back and straightened his tunic. "Aye, 'tis you all right. Any other would have ended poorly, for certain. How came ya to be this way?"
Missy related the story of the Boogre Queen and how her death hadn't ended the curse. She also told him of the passing of the two-headed giant, and showed the giant's twin axes.
"Here," said Missy. "It's late, and I'm tired from the battle. Here's the stuff I picked up from this round. Cash it in, and give me half the gold. Put the rest in the guild coffers for the families of those who lost members to the giant. It's the least I can do."
"Ye've done more than any other," said the guildmaster. "None other came back alive, and none other dispatched the giant. Little ye may consider it, but great do we consider it here. 'While it may mean little, I'll sponsor ye for another promotion within the guild. Ye have truly done good for us, and ye've taken care of all the work that's been needin' doing."
Collecting her gold and repairing her gear, Missy then stopped in at the Bushi Dojo. After once again explaining that she was still herself, she passed on the news of Grunaxe's fate, and was rewarded with a guild promotion and the possibility of new training. That, and the request to take out an assassin who had the dojo's head in his sights. "A woman's work is never done," she grumbled as she headed out to the other guilds.
After visiting each one, she left with the urge to wipe the dirt of their shops from her boots and never visit them again. "What a pity," she thought. "Can't see below the surface to who's inside this great green grossness of a body, and assume that the worst that can be is going to happen. The simplest of protection spells could take care of that, and yet..."
She left the town and tried out the teleport spell again. Miraculously it worked, and she finished cleaning out the rest of the Boogre Caves. Toward the end, guarded by another set of walking salads, she found a strange idol. When she touched it, she felt a strange shiver as her body contracted, her muscles and sinews screaming in agony. After a few moments, the pain stopped, and she realized that the Boogre Queen's curse was now ended. "So that's why she was protecting that eye," she thought. "It led the way to the cure for her curse, and she couldn't have her loyal subjects finding that."
Calling home one more time, Missy walked into the inn for a large room with a large tub for bathing. She planned to see Scanthril tomorrow, and she wanted to be in her best mood.
On to Chapter 16
[ 02-26-2003, 10:52 PM: Message edited by: Bungleau ]