Chapter Five: Audience with "Shabernigdo"

Disclaimer: I do not own Slayers, or any of their characters. However, I do own Babbit, Yeshta, Pickle and Slipper. Varunia is borrowed from my sister.

Enjoy!

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That evening, at dinner, she was seated beside Pickle. The dining room was quite spacious, and filled with monks. There were many tables full of them; all a few steps lower then the table that she was sitting at. The table of the High Priest Pickle was on a platform, as he supposedly was the most important person here. He clapped his hands loudly, calling everyone to attention. They all sat in perfect silence, waiting for their Priest to speak.

"Fellow followers of Shabernigdo! He has blessed us this day!" He held one hand in Babbit's direction. "He has sent us the great Rezo, to heal out bodily injuries and teach us in the ways of health!" The monks cheered wildly. Babbit grabbed Pickle's arm, pinching him through the robes.

"You idiot! What are you thinking? I'm not Rezo!" She hissed.

"Fake it. They won't be able to tell the difference." He shrugged.

"I haven't studied that much healing magic!"

"So have him possess you again." He raised his voice again. "We will begin healing tomorrow! For tonight, be thankful and dine!"

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For dinner, they were served plain white rice and pickled vegetables. There were also thin strips of meat that Babbit couldn't identify, so she avoided them. After dinner, she walked with Pickle out to the gardens, where he promised to explain things to her. The sky was at it's best, as there was no moon to outshine the sea of stars tonight. As they walked through rows of plants, some decorative, some productive, he began to speak.

"Well, it's kinda like this. I was wandering around and looking for some work, when these weird monk guys carried me up to a volcano. I thought they were going to throw me in, but instead, they summoned some girl that they kept calling "Shabernigdo". Personally, I didn't think that Shabernigdo would be a girl, of all things, but I didn't tell them that. They might have decided to throw me in to the volcano after all. Anyways, they promised me that if I would be the bodyguard for her, I would get free food and tons of money. Somehow, I've become the high priest too, which isn't so bad. I get even better free food, and the money is building up quite nicely. I'm going to send some home in a week or so." Pickle paused finally. "What are you doing here?"

"I am restoring the land which has been destroyed by a Dragon Slave. My mother was worried about me traveling alone, so she told me to look you up and maybe have you escort me for a while. But, since you're the "high priest" and all, you won't be having time for something like that." She said sarcastically. "And WHY did you tell all those guys that I'm Rezo? It's not true and you know it!"

"She'll explain it to you." He shrugged, and gestured to a gazebo in the middle of the garden. Babbit grumbled something, and went in to the gazebo. Stretched out leisurely on the many cushions, there was a girl who made Babbit think of Valgarv. She wondered for a moment if they might be related, but shook the thought away.

"So. You're Pickle's cousin?" She asked.

"That I am. And who might you be?" Babbit asked, carefully sitting down.

"Didn't he tell you? I'm Shabernigdo."

"Yeah, that's what he said. Why do you look so much like Valgarv?" Babbit asked, starting to feel irritated. The girl blinked.

"You know my father?"

"Your father?" They stared at each other for a moment.

"Hm. This could make things interesting." The girl smiled smugly. "Yes, my father is Valgarv. My name is Varunia. A while ago, I scared some dweebs in to thinking I was Shabernigdo. Things have just gone from there." Varunia shrugged. "Now it's your turn. Who are you?"

"Babbit Graywords. I'm currently trying to restore land that has been destroyed by a Dragon Slave. My stupid cousin told all your little minions that I was Rezo."

"I guess you'll just have to pretend to be him. I expect you to heal my poor little minions so they can have some illusion of happiness." She sighed, and looked away. "They can be such a pain sometimes..." Babbit stood up.

"Thank you for your time." She said flatly, then walked out of the gazebo in a controlled manner. She stalked by Pickle.

"Did she help you figure things out?" He asked. Babbit ignored his question and stormed back inside the temple. She was not in the mood for Pickle and his moronic questions.

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Ahh, the plot is developing! ^_^ GO GRAYWORDS! ^_^ R&R, please.