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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Cerebral Paladin" data-source="post: 3070237" data-attributes="member: 3448">She did not regain consciousness for the entire next day.  Finally, in early night, her eyes opened, although she remained too weak to move or to defend herself.  She continued resting and then looked with fear into the shadows of the woods as something rustled towards her.  But the fear turned to relief when another of the half-human, half-serpent creatures ducked under a branch and moved towards her.  Its gaze lingered on her forehead.“You are a friend of my forest brethren,” it observed.“Yes… they protected me when I escaped from the Seachen.”The creature’s face twisted at the word.  “The women who stole even our sacred names for their own purposes when they took our lands.”  It then bent down and looked at her neck.  “You have been poisoned.  I will draw the poison from you.”  It placed a hand lightly upon her shoulder and concentrated.  Ilsbet assumed that it must be applying redaction psionics; its actions did not seem like any magic, whether for healing or other purposes, that she had ever seen.  After a few moments, it settled back, looking very tired.  “There.  That should make you better.  The poison was powerful, but it will afflict you no more.”Ilsbet felt enormously better and was able to assist as the creature quickly built a campfire.  It produced a small pot out of its pack and proceeded to brew tea of a sort.  The creature boiled water, carefully checked the leaves within a small, porous pouch, dipped the pouch in the water for no more than a second, and then carefully put the pouch away.  It sipped at its cup and smiled and relaxed, apparently enjoying the tea greatly.  Ilsbet politely sipped at the very slightly discolored water in her cup and realized that the tasteless porridge made more sense if this was what they thought of as tea.  After the tea, the creature gestured for her to sleep and kept watch for the rest of the night.“I cannot keep watch over you myself,” the creature said.  “But I will bring you to those who can.  There is a group of knights from one of the northern lands nearby.  They will keep you safe.”After less than a day of travel, the kindly creature led Ilsbet to a trail.  A mounted company of approximately two dozen troops reined in their horses as the unusual pair emerged from the woods.  One of the knights, who Ilsbet presumed to be the leader based on the fancy pennant on his lance, rode forward and held up a hand in greeting.  “Well met, forest lord.”  The knight had a gray beard and a calm, easy manner.  “Who is your companion?”“She flees slavery and could use your protection.”“Then she will have it, and gladly.  We will escort her on our return to Canberry.”Ilsbet’s eyes narrowed.  She drew and brandished her knife.  “If you try to rape or enslave me, I’ll kill you or die trying.”The knight-banneret leaned back in his saddle; offense and laughter warred on his face, finally giving way to bemused consternation.  “My dear girl, we are knights in the service of Glor’diadel and the Archduchy of Canberry.  You need have no fear of slavery, as we are here to fight the slavers in the name of the Archduke.  And as for the rest, you are in no danger of assault of any kind in this company.  You are welcome to our safety, but you may leave our company whenever you wish.”The Seachen lord spoke to Ilsbet.  “You may trust his word, little one.”  He faced the knight again.  “The humans who defile the name of the Seachen have harmed her badly.”“The witch women of the forests?  I knew them to be a strange folk, but had not thought them evil.  Are you from their lands?”“No.  I am from Seareach, in the South Kingdoms, not from the Seachen lands.  They enslaved me as we tried to escape from the rat monsters.  But the Seachen are as evil as any of the rats ever were…”“Be that as it may… we are on the way back to our homeland of Canberry.  If you wish, you may accompany us.”  He gestured at several riderless horses.  “We have lost three of our number fighting the slavers, and thus we have the horses to spare.  We will not let any return you to servitude, whether they be your former masters or other slavers in the area.”Ilsbet nodded curtly and mounted one of the spare horses.  She thanked the Seache lord, who nodded his head and slipped back into the woods.  Then the knight-banneret wheeled his horse, and the column began riding northwards.</blockquote>

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