Wraithvine, Gikka, and Bibrid disguised as a a small imp enter a kingdom where runners are swiftly going through the cities looking for a strong healer to heal the princess. Unfortunately, the situation is dire as her injuries from the animal attack are infected and getting worse. Sadly, dealing with royals is something that terrifies the immortal healer.
@internutter/challenge-03852-j200-a-well-earned-rest -- Anon Guest
Legends told of a magical Gnome who could keep a living body frozen in time. The iconography was horrifyingly close to Bibrid's chosen form. Which was why he had chosen another. One guaranteed to cause people to take caution and keep their distance.
Bibrid looked like an Imp. An unusual choice, but an Imp in the company of a Wizard, generally with some variety of electrum chain on their body, was automatically assumed to be a tame, summoned creature. It also helped that Bibrid kept himself within flinching reach of Wraithvine.
People who saw them together assumed that Wraithvine held him on a leash, and then were surprised that it wasn't there. They were also a little shocked to see a Kobold so close to an Imp. The assumption being that Dragons and Dragonkindred didn't get along with any creature that entered the mortal plane from another. People assume incredibly wrong things more often than not.
It worked, in a way, to give Bibrid security. At least it worked until they heard the news.
"They put another naught on the reward money," announced someone with a poster. "One million gold to anyone who can cure the princess. If I knew more than spit about medicine, I'd have a go."
"Maedl, you think clay mud's a good cure for burns. You ain't got no chance."
Bibrid tugged on Wraithvine's coat. They exchanged a look loaded with concern.
The thing about kind people is, even when they should know better, even when the world has beaten them to a whisper of their confidence... they still choose to be kind. A Dragon with the gift of healing, of saving lives... still wanted to save one more.
Even when he knew what it would cost.
Gikka was the one who found another poster. It had all the details they needed to find they way.
Into the capital, towards the castle. Past a gauntlet of people whose job it was to root out frauds and snake-oil vendors. Eventually into the chapel where a host of clerics ran through their prayers to keep one patient in the land of the living. A host of nurses cared for the princess' biological needs.
There was also a small queue of healers waiting their turn to try their skills.
Gikka climbed up Wraithvine to watch over the heads of the rest, balanced by Bibrid on the other shoulder. Some other healers took one look at a wizard with a Kobold on one shoulder and an Imp on the other, and then decided to have other business elsewhere.
It was Gikka, not Bibrid who found the key to the case. A ring on the princess' hand that was robbed from a temple of one of Alfarell's many death gods. When Gikka stole it, the curse moved to her. Quickly halted by Wraithvine, who gave it to the nearest cleric of the relevant devotion.
After that, it was a simple thing to bring the princess back to full health.
Wraithvine only accepted enough to keep them all in good health until they reached the next town.
Bibrid still needed some strong drinks afterwards.
[Photo by Domonique Davenport on Unsplash]
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