From: vaughan8670@iscsvax.uni.edu
Newsgroups: alt.pub.dragons-inn
Subject: [H]Hayley receives word, and a new friend...
Date: 7 Sep 92 22:00:07 -0500
Organization: University of Northern Iowa

ADMIN:  Helios and Hayley requested this be posted...(I think...)
Follows the previous post [R/H]




	The Magpie squirmed on Zakronius' shoulder, a sure sign of its 
restlessness. Zakronius winced as the bird's claws unconciously dug into 
his shoulder.
	"Knock it off !" he thought to the bird.
	The Magpie made a decision.
 	"There is a tree ahead. Beneath it is a human female."
	"So ?"
	"She is waiting for us."

**********

 	Hayley sensed that the bird was communicating with the druid. She
could sense his annoyance at being disturbed from his thoughts, and she
could sense his confusion when he realised that she was waiting for them.
Hand on the hilt of his scimitar, he approached. 
	Were Hayley not blind, she would have been able to see him by now.
Undoubtedly, he could see her. She could hear his footsteps on the dusty
road, she could sense his mind and that of the magpie as they came nearer.
SCAN......
	SUBJECT: Zakronius...
	RESULT : Confusion...
Ah, she thought, this one is confused as to why I am here, who I am...

**********

	Zakronius and the Magpie stopped at the side of the road, barely
ten metres away form the girl. Zakronius stared at her in confusion, and 
then he realised she wasn't staring back- her eyes were covered in a milky
white film. She was blind. Compassion welled in Zakronius' heart, and in
spite of all caution he felt, he went and sat next to her. The Magpie left 
his shoulder and perched in the boughs of the tree under which its master
now sat.
	"I am Zakronius, a druid....um....how are you ?"
	He felt like a heel the moment the words left his mouth, but he
really didn't know what to say
	"I am fine. My name is Hayley. I am 12 years old, and that's about
all I know about myself."
	Zakronius was really confused now. Judging by this girls figure, 
grimey as it may be, she was at least 17. She might think she's 12, but that
body did not and could not belong to anyone younger than their late teens or
early adulthood.
	"Um...How old are you ?"
	"I am 12."
	"What year were you born in ?"
	"My people called it the year of the Golden Dove".
	Ooh heck, Zakronius thought. Golden Dove. That's a Benharrad year
name, and that makes her ...um...er...17 ! Spot on!. The question was, what
was a Benharrad doing near Specifica of the Sugars ???
	And why the heck does she think she's 12 ???
	"You are going to Specifica ?"
	The question had come from Hayley, and it jolted him out of his
reverie.
	"Um...yes. Are you ?"

**********

	HAYLEY
	The voice was inside her head. She knew the druid was sitting next
to her, that he had asked her a question, but the voice drowned out any 
other conscious thought.
	Yes ?
	LEAVE. DO NOT ENTER THE CITY.
	But...I must ! The centaur is there. He knows who I am !
	I AM THE CENTAUR. DO NOT ENTER THE CITY. THERE IS GRAVE DANGER
I HAVE BEEN CAPTURED BY AN ENEMY FOR WHOM YOU ARE NO MATCH. GO TO THE
CITY OF GENERICA, TO THE NORTH. SEEK OUT THE DRAGONS INN. THERE YOU
WILL FIND HELP FOR YOUR CAUSE.
	You are in danger ? Please, let me help ! I want to help !
	THERE IS NOTHING YOU CAN DO...
	The voice began to waver in her mind...
	GO TO....GENERICA....THE INN...AAAAAAAAARGH!!!!!!!

	The psychic scream racked her mind, she responded with a vocal
scream of her own.

**********

	Zakronius had watched the girl been watching the girl for a few
moments, waiting for a reply to his question. He did not expect a scream.
	"Hey ! Calm Down ! What's Happening ???"
	Hayley began to cry. The Magpie, perched above, cocked its head to
get a better view. "Mind contact. She has been in mind contact with someone."
	Zakronius looked up at his familiar. 
	"Why didn't you tell me ? What was said ?"
	"I cannot read the conversation, only tell that it is occurring."
	"Great..."
	Zakronius took the sobbing girl in his arms, whispered what he hoped
were soothing words as he held her, patting her on the back.
	"generica..." she sobbed.
	"Hey ?"
	She looked at him with tear filled eyes.
	"We must go to a place called Generica."