> I watched poor J'layah walk down the stairs, hum crawl is probably a better
> word, somewhere inside me a voice said" oh poor thing, doesn't she look
> awful" I wasn't sure of the exact meaning of my little voice, it seemed
> slightly sarcastic, but I've grown used to hearing that voice, so as usual
> I ignored it and watched the tragic/comedy unfold.
> Dear Julianos, I thought she's got her shoes on wrong, at which point her
> face turned a whiter shade of err...green, I leaned over to Balefire and
> whispered in his ear, asking if it was all right to cast a healing dweomer
> on her.
> I have found it wise to check with Balefire about casting spells, cause
> that staff of his tends to have a mind of its own.
>

Balefire chuckled inwardly, noting approvingly that Mea was exercising due
caution.  The Staff of the Dawn had no less than three ancient vampires
imprisoned in it, not to mention divers other enchantments both fair and fell.
Having been fashioned from the wood of an oak in an entirely different plane,
and said oak having been used since ancient times as an object of worship by a
mysterious order of animist priest-mages, the staff was semi-sentient.  Indeed,
the warmage sometimes wondered if it might not be wholly sentient and just
keeping its own counsel.  Given that its entire surface was carved with runes
of power, and that it had been used in countless battles and spell-weavings, it
really was not surprising that it sometimes seemed to have a defiite mind of
its own.

With the natural bloodthirstiness with which its unwilling inhabitants imbued
it, small wonder that it sometimes appeared to resent healing spells used
nearby.  The staff was carefully controlled by its owner, however, as now when
Balefire sent a warning trickle of magicka into it.

> After Balefire gave me a good humored nod (he seems to be enjoying this
> little spectacle, I thought) I concentrated a little, put my hand on
> J'layah's forehead, till I saw her natural color coming thru, Goodness I
> thought she is quite good looking when she gets cleaned up.
> At this moment a splat of custard appeared on J'layah's plate, and for a
> moment there I thought that i was going to loose my spell but I persevered
> until she was at least able to pick at some bread and cheese, "eat my dear"
> i said you are going to need all the strength and courage that you've got
> in the next week or so, while simultaneously giving Tabanallis a glaring
> stare, as if to say "you lout can't you be a little more cultured"
> Instead I said to J'layah, "Feeling any better now, dear"
> Twilight caught my eye and winked , which I took to mean well done, at
> least there was a glimmer of amusement in her eyes, so I nodded at her and
> finished breaking my fast, mentally going thru the various things I had in
> my back pack and what new supplies I needed.
>
>

"Perhaps," thought Balefire to himself, "when this quest is over, I can give
J'layah a little instruction in a good anti-hangover cantrip.  She certainly
seems in need of one.   Mea, on the other hand, appears to very proficient
indeed in the healing areas of the Art.  She might be persuaded to give *me*
lesons.  Perhaps she would be willing to trade for a bit more sparring
practice."  Pleased at the prospect, he returned to his breakfast and his ale.