>>6346887"No mother, we're fine. We need you to drink this. It'll cure you." Sabina smiles through her sorrow.
Arne takes the waterskin and puts it to his mother's lips. Sabina prays silently, but you can see her lips moving and her arms trembling as her hands are clasped together. Soon, the waterskin is emptied. "How do you feel?" The siblings look at their parent eagerly. Martha's eyes widen in mere moments, and her pale face becomes flush again.
She clears her throat, and looks confused. A smile grows on her face, and she moves to get out of bed. "What did you do? I feel as if I was never ill!" She embraces her children, crying. "Oh sweet mercy! Thank you Lord Akvon!" Arne and Sabina are also overcome by emotion, and you can't help but feel your eyes get watery as well.
It's probably best to leave the family to enjoy their miracle together. That strange magic-user wanted to talk to you and Mandevilla, didn't he? You lead the enchantress by the arm and drag your brother out of the family's cupboard. It looks like he decided to help himself to a sack of crackers. Of course.
You exit the house and see the strange fellow standing outside, looking at the clouds. "I hope you understand that you are currently indebted to me. All of civilized society exists upon a series of privileges and responsibilities. I gave the both of you the privilege of entering this town, when otherwise you would have been barred as outsiders. And now, you not only have a responsibility to me... but to it's people. You must prove yourselves trustworthy. Do you understand?"
You look back and forth. "So... I am indebted to you, is that what you are saying?"
"Naturally. But fear not, good man. I am not a cruel master." He grins, but that does little to put you at ease.
You decide to introduce yourself. "Sir, I am a man of the wild. I live among the giant birds. My name is No-Egg. This is my brother, Whitefeathers. And she--," You are cut off by the enchantress.
"I am Mandevilla. I once lived here, in Tarnestead." She speaks firmly.
The strange magic-user seems pleased. "It is nice to formally meet you. I am Vault, the wizard. I would prefer to treat you as my peers, seeing as you are indeed rather gifted individuals. The common folk fear us, I'm sure you know. That guard earlier was a second away from prostrating himself before me and licking my boots. I tire of being worshipped. I used to be but a man."
>"What do you want from us?">"What sort of wizardry do you wield?">"What happened here that even the warriors respect you?">(Write in) 