Between Cassandra's fireballs and attempted self-immolation, the combined shouts and curses of the guards, Fairalin's spell, and the unearthly howling of a demon being banished, there is soon a crowd of onlookers staring fearfully out of doors and around corners, watching.Fairalin was still buzzing around angrily inside the lantern, her voice muffled.
Cassandra lay unconscious on the cold stones, smoking from her own spells.
The commotion was such that even the council meeting had temporarily adjourned, and Lord Tolan made his way quickly through the terrified, bewildered guards, asking what had happened. The reports varied greatly, depending on the understanding of the events of the previous night.
"The witch tried to release the demon again!" shouted one.
"The fairy stopped her! She banished the demon!"
"She tried to commit suicide, said she'd die fighting!" shouted someone, who hadn't seen a durn thing.
"She killed her!" said another, pointing to Fairalin's lamp.
"She saved her life, you idiot!"
"She's still dying," a kindhearted maid pointed out helpfully. "You goons going to just STAND there?"
"You were ordered NOT to harm the Outworlders!" Lord Tolan thundered, silencing the flying rumors. He strode over to Cassandra and tried to touch her, and also burnt his hand. He stared at her a moment, then donned his leather gloves and lifted her, heedless of the way his shirt was beginning to smoulder. "YOU!" he barked at the guard holding Fairalin's lamp. "Come with me."
Turning on his heel, he walked quickly down the hallway, heading for the dungeons, for there was the only man who could help her, as far as he knew-- the Wizard Echlar, who was currently questioning the Berserker.
The remaining guards looked a combination of sullen, confused, and chagrinned....and the rumors that left that hallway to fly about the castle now were even more confused and even further from the truth than ever before.....
