Chapter 7

Sheila squealed. Guy jumped to his feet, followed quickly by Raina and Jamie. I stayed where I was for the moment, my eyes on Jake, who was getting to his feet. Wasn’t sure how he pulled that one off, but I was pretty sure he was behind what happened, that it was some elaborate magic trick. To his credit, he was acting his part well, checking on the others and looking around, much like the others.

I got to my feet and looked around too, but not for Ash. I was sure she was safe. I was more interested in the lightning effect that Jake produced. I examine the scorch marks on the table, which weren’t there before. This was top-rate work on his part! I was very impressed.

The wood was still warm, which meant that there was a heating effect too. How he managed to produce it and keep it controlled so that it would hurt anyone, was beyond me. But I was sure that given some time, I’d figure it out.

“Okay everyone, calm down,” said Jake, taking control of the situation, “I know we’re all scared, but let’s try and figure out what just happened.”

I wasn’t buying into this at all, but it was fun to play along.

“What the fuck were those things with her?” This was Jamie. She had the least experience among us.

“Fuckin’ goblins!” said Guy.

“There’s no such thing as real goblins.” This was Sheila, stating the obvious.

It was interesting looking around at everyone and seeing their reactions. Their minds were telling them that goblins didn’t exist, that people didn’t disappear, but their eyes were telling a far different story, creating strife.

Jake had walked over to a window and was looking out, so I walked over to him while the others were talking among themselves.

“You’re scaring them quite a bit. Not sure this is a good way to start the adventure, pal,” I whispered to him.

Jake turned to me and started to reply, but he couldn’t quite get the words started. But I could see it in his eyes. He didn’t orchestrate this. He was scared.

“What the fuck, man?” I asked.

“I don’t know, Bruce. No fuggin’ clue.”

Jamie was walking over with a “what are we gonna’ do” look about her. I pulled her close for a reassuring hug, though I was less than assured myself.

“Okay everyone,” began Jake, “let’s try and figure this out.”

“We need to go find Ash,” said Sheila, her eyes glistening a bit.

“Exactly!” bellowed Guy, pounding his fist down on a table and splintering it completely.

We all just looked.

“Sorry,” said Guy, “I didn’t think I hit it that hard.”

I saw Raina wincing as if in some discomfort. I asked her what was wrong.

“When the lightning struck I guess I was too close to it.” She turned a bit and we all could see that part of her shirt had been burned away, and there were burn marks on her torso.

There were a few collective gasps. I walked over to her.

“Can you cure me, cleric?” she asked with a wince and a smile.

I smiled back and knelt near her, looking more closely at her burns and lightly touching the wounded area.

“Sure, Raina, I’ll just cast ‘Cure Moderate Wounds’ and that will--” I stopped speaking as a feeling almost like a light electric current left my hand. As I stared, Raina’s wounds lightened, right before my eyes, and then disappeared, leaving her skin unblemished.

I jumped back.

“What the fuck did you just do to me?” asked Raina, looking back and forth between me and her healed body, then touching herself with her hands to confirm the healing.

Jake and the others moved closer to her, though Jamie moved more toward me.

“He healed her,” said Jake, examining Raina himself.

“He can’t cast spells for real,” said Guy, looking at Jake as if he’d lost his mind.

“Really, Guy? Then you explain what just happened,” said Jake, standing up.

Everyone was silent for a short while.

Jamie broke the silence.

“Mage hand. Retrieve my dice.”

Almost instantly, a ghostly hand appeared, floating close to her. Then it moved over to the main table and picked up her dice bag, and then brought it to her. She took the bag.

“End Mage hand.” It disappeared.