Lute: HE'S ALIIIIIVE!

Yes, yes, I'm writing again. Time to continue the story of Sociopathology! (clears throat)

Badon Forest was not quite what Legault had expected. He had imagined something similar to the Dread Isle – dark, desolate, possibly infested with bandits. Instead he found it to be remarkably similar to Lyn's stories of Sacae – it was warm, quiet, and there was just enough light to give everything a wonderful radiance.

And then Canas started talking.

"Look, Legault!" Canas called. "This is the rare validus dolorstirps! I have never seen a sample of this plant that hasn't been burned!"

Legault stood over the shaman. "Isn't that poison ivy?"

"That's what it would appear to be, yes. However, you will notice that this particular plant has a purple streak running through its spine." He reached his hand out to the plant and began stroking it in a manner Legault found rather unsettling. "Also, this plant does not grow quite as tall because the powerful toxins inside it corrupt the water it ingests. It is really a fascinating -"

"That's great and everything," Legault interrupted, "but didn't anyone ever tell you that it's a bad idea to touch poison ivy?"

Canas furrowed his brow. "Legault, I just told yOW!" He quickly withdrew his hand and turned the palm to his face. It had turned a bright scarlet, and was quickly swelling.

"Ah, Legault, if you wouldn't mind getting my (ow!) Mend staff out of you supplies, please?" Canas said. "Hmm…I've never seen it…grow to this…size…" His eyes began to grow starry as the assassin rushed over to him.

"Here!" Legault thrust the staff at Canas. "Use this!"

Canas shook his head. "No, no…you need to heal me. Staves don't work on…the user…oh, look, it gave me warts!"

"What?" You want me to use a Mend? I've never even touched one before!"

"Well, it's certainly worth a try, Legault. Come on, surely you've always wanted to - oh, my, that can't be good - use magic, right?"

Legault rolled his eyes, and then closed them like Priscilla always did when she healed someone. He felt an odd, rather unpleasant force flowing out of him, and…

"Er…Legault? Maybe you should stop now."

He reopened his eyes and looked at Canas. Canas' hand had not gotten any better; his face, however, had a pained expression that had not been there before.

"Uh…" Legault paused. "Did I do something wrong?"

Canas pointed to where the plant had been before. It had wilted and fallen to pieces in the five seconds Legault's eyes were shut.

"Perhaps you aren't cut out for healing," Canas said.

Karel stood before the mansion that the Saldon brothers were reported to live in. One of them was outside, digging in the small garden they had. He looked large and powerful, but he showed an odd (though incomplete) grace as he worked.

Karel stood and watched the man for well over an hour. As the sun began to fall, he heard familiar footsteps approach him from behind. They stopped beside him, joining him in his appraisal.

"What do you think?" he asked.

"I think that he has too much focus to bear axes, but he lacks the finesse that comes from years training by the sword." Karla answered. She turned and looked up at her brother. "Don't you agree?"

Karel nodded. "I've seen the third as well. His skill with the bow is exemplary, but he seems fragile. I almost wonder…"

They stood together, silent, for several minutes longer. Karla finally turned around and began to leave.

"You don't want me to kill them."

Karla froze. Karel stood facing away, but she knew that he watched her, all the same; that there was something he needed her to say.

"I don't," she responded. "Do you?"

She slowly continued back the way she had come.

"Canas, we really should stop here."

The two companions had traveled deep into the forest. Night was falling, and Legault couldn't help but wince every time he looked at Canas' misshapen hand.

Canas shook his head. "We need to keep going! Karel has surely reached the Saldon house by now; if we linger here, we'll miss the battle!"

"Canas, your hand is about to fall off! How do you expect it to heal if we keep moving?"

"Oh, it doesn't really hurt. See, I can still move my fingers." Canas held his hand out to Legault and wiggled his fingers feebly. "I'll be fine!"

"We need to rest!"

"But we can't miss this! What if they've already started?"

The bushes rustled. Legault and Canas both turned their heads to see Karla walking towards them.

"They haven't," she said as she walked past.

"Wait…they haven't? What do you mean?" Canas called after her.

She turned back and gave them a small smile. "He won't fight them until the sun is up," she said. "He loves how the light reflects off of spilled blood."

The two men stared after her as she left. Finally, Canas reached into his pouch and pulled out a sheaf of parchment.

"Would you mind writing that down?" he asked.

-- Notes of the Author --

First of all, I'm really back. I won't update super frequently, but I should be updating weekly or bi-weekly now…so this should actually move forward with something that actually resembles speed!

Secondly, "validus dolorstirps" is roughly translated to "strong toxic plant" from the Latin. Of course, it's a little warped in translation.

I hope you enjoyed the next installment of Sociopathology! See you next time!