The Staff of Ramah

  Chapter 32

  As the creaking fishing boat approached the shoreline in front of Seafas’ little home, Gaost got a sick feeling in the pit of his stomach.

  “Please just wait here on the shore for a bit please,” he said to Pete, who just nodded in response.

  “I got a bad feelin’ Boss,” Jer said to the worried Cleric. “Somethin’ is up.”

  “You sense it too then? Let’s move in carefully and quietly son.”

  The worried companions crept quietly, each around either side of the house, but found that no one was there.

  “Everyone must be inside Boss,” Jer said glancing around the front yard. “It does look like there was a fight here though. Look at how the ground is all scuffed up over here.”

  Gaost said nothing in response, but rather rushed in through the door to see what had happened.

  It was the young man Jer who first reacted to what was seen inside. He rushed in like a flash and started to shake once he got close enough to see Jirah’s pale and lifeless face.

  “Is she dead?” Jer asked, in more of a shout. “Who did this?” The poor boy was more than a little distraught, and Rose moved over to console him as best she could.

  “She is ok for now Jer,” Rose spoke in a soft tone, doing her best not to show how scared she was in this moment too. “The dagger that pierced her shoulder was coated with a slow acting poison however.”

  “I have done what I can with my limited knowledge of medicine to slow the poison,” Seafas answered. “I would say that she has two or three hours at most before her heart stops completely.”

  “We have to DO something!” Jer exclaimed.

  “Listen up everyone,” Gaost exclaimed. “We are getting distracted from our main purpose. It is time for Rose to claim the staff.”

  After a short moment of silence, Logan responded in agreement, “Sorry Gaost. You are right. Let’s regain some focus here and get on with our mission.”

  “Rose, Logan and I will leave right away for the Isle of Shadow,” the serious Cleric instructed. “Jer, you stay here with Seafas and help care for Jirah.”

  Jer nodded in agreement, saying nothing, his attention mostly still being given to his fallen comrade.

  “And pray,” Gaost almost yelled. “Pray all of you. If we can get Rose back here in time with the staff, then Jirah will be just fine.”

  Everyone turned to look directly at the Priestess of Ya, something that would usually make her nervous, but for some reason she found her soul filling with resolution. In this desperate moment, she was able to shed all of her fear and worry like a butterfly breaks away its cocoon. Before the followers of Ya now stood a reborn Rose, ready to embrace her destiny with her whole being.

  “Today the free reign of Belial comes to an end,” Rose declared. “Let’s go get that staff boys.”

  Logan and Gaost both smiled at that remark, then with a fierce determination, the three of them left the little fishing shack to get in the waiting boat.