"Lady Oni, you look terrible. Are you feeling alright?" asked Hans as he stepped into the Alchemist's Chamber of the Tower. "No, I am not." I replied. I have not felt good since I got back from Yew. I feel like some strange malady has afflicted my mind and body," I said as I looked through Akioshi's potions and herbs. "Nothing so far seems to be helping, even my magic." "Have you talked to Aki about this?" asked Hans. "Not yet. She has been out in the Spiritwood all day searching for herbs and such for her experiments. I believe she should be coming back soon," I commented as I turned to look at another shelf higher up. "Ooohh!" Darkness began to close in around me. "Oni!" cried out Hans as he rushed to catch me before I collapsed. He caught me just in time and helped me to a chair nearby. "Oni," he called out softly as he patted my hand gently. I forced my eyes to open. "What happened?" I asked weakly. 'You fainted would be the correct terminology I believe." He quipped. I smiled. "Just sit here and rest while I go find Aki." Hans quickly ran out of the room and down the stairs. "Sarreffe, something is wrong with Oni. Have you seen Aki? She just rode in and is at the stable." I heard Sarreffe reply. "Where be Oni?" She is upstairs in the alchemy chamber." I heard Hans say as the great doors of Tower opened and closed. I saw Sarreffe before I heard him. He always walks so quietly. Years of being in the wild had made him that way. "Oni, you look like a silver serpent bit ya," he joked as he stepped close to me and grabbed my hand. "I feel like one has," I replied as a smile broke on my face. He always had a way of making me feel better and laugh, even in the direst of times. "What really happened to ya, Lass?" "I went to Yew to get a new book for Rose from the Jolly Baker," I said as Hans and Aki came up the stairs and into the chamber. "And since then, I have been feeling like this, dizzy sometimes and achy all the time." "Oni, do you have the book still," Akioshi asked as she felt my brow and checked the palms of my hands. "Aye, it is in my pack. Let me get it." 'NO! Oni don't touch the book," Aki shouted as she grabbed my hands. "Just let Sarreffe open your pack." She walked over to her work table and picked up a set of tongs. Sarreffe opened my pack, and Aki picked up the book with the tongs and placed it on the little table. She then started mixing some different vials together into a single potion. "Everyone stand back. This could get interesting." Sarreffe grabbed my arm and helped me stand. I could feel his great strength as I leaned on him. We all took a few steps back. Aki grabbed the potion with the tongs and poured it on the book. The book began to shake and a hissing sound came forth with strange coloured vapors. After the vapors subsided, she approached the book. The three of us stepped forward, cautiously. Crude writings began to form on the cover. i leaned closer to see better, still holding Sarreffe's strong arm. ""Sapar 'Ala." "Book of Cursing." I said.A smile came to my lips as I remembered the adamant "coaxing" of Xander to be thorough in my study of the language of the ancients. "It is as I thought, Lady Oni. You have been cursed," Aki stated. "Cursed," Hans replied. "Someone or something put a horrible enchantment on this book," she said. "Then Oni must have activated it," Sarreffe broke in. "Indeed she did. Was probably set to go off when the book was opened, most are," Aki continued. "Will it subside or go away1?," asked Hans. "No, a way must be found to break the enchantment," I said. " I have read about these things happening.before. Whoever put the curse on the book will know or have the cure." "Can Oni die from this? asked Hans. "I don't know," replied Aki. "What have you read about it, Oni?"" she asked. "I don't think it will take my life, but I cannot stay this way indefinitely. It does make living in general quite uncomfortable." We all laughed. "Then we must find the cure or the someone who has the cure and quickly," Sarreffe.said as he gently led me to the chair and helped me sit down. "Who did you say you got the book from in the baker's shop?" "Her name was Jodi," I replied. "I wonder who would want to hurt Lady Oni," stated Hans. "I don't know, Hans, but I am going to find out, right now," Sarreffe's voice was low and gruff. I could tell his mood had changed. His face had taken on a stern darkness as I watched him put his gloves back on and picked up his hat. "C'mon, Hans, we have questions needin' answers in Yew," he spoke gruffly as he slapped his fisted, gloved hand into his other. "Dark paths we must trod this day....
Eerr... Uh.. Hello, This is Sarreffe. I have hacked Oni's account, I THINK! Will be using it to document the remaining tale of Oni's malady. As you have read, Oni is taken quite ill and will be homebound until I can find the cure for her. {She is tied in bed} Should any want to travel with an ol' grouchy tracker let me know through this post. If ya don't come, don't want ya anyway. {Told ye I was grouchy.}
