Chapter 10: Leaving Jidoor
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   Alcan considered his choices.  On the one hand, whoever had just
attacked and kidnapped Lola was a powerful entity, being controlled by
another, presumably even more powerful one.  Alcan also felt a small
measure of personal responsibility; perhaps he should have warned the
others of the "presence" he'd felt earlier.  On the other hand, from
what he'd figured out by listening to the others' conversation in the
inn, this Edgar could easily be the source of the evil; if he were
destroyed, that would probably take care of Lola's kidnapper as well, or
at least weaken him to the point where he would not be difficult to deal
with.

   Nearby, Sabin responded to Locke's question.  "I'm going with Banon,"
he said.  "I intend to save... my brother... from whatever has been done
to him."

   Alcan was about to respond similarly, but he hesitated, held back by
a sudden feeling that he would be needed more with Driel and Locke.
"I'll be going with you," he told them.  Then, turning to Banon, he
explained, "I have a feeling that what you find will not be what you
expect, that it will be easier to deal with than this kidnapper.  I've
had this kind of feeling before, and it's never been wrong."

   "I see," Banon said.  "I would have liked you along with us, but if
you believe you should search for Lola's kidnapper instead, I won't
dispute that."  Then, speaking to Driel and Locke as well, he continued,
"Good luck to you three."

   "And to you," Locke replied.  Banon nodded, and he and his group
turned aside to discuss their plans.

   Alcan turned to Driel.  "Let me see if I can do something about those
burns," he said.  He had pushed his limits with the lightning he had
used against the Dark Force, but he could still draw a little magic.  He
did, and directed a curative spell at Driel.  Her burns and blisters
subsided somewhat, though not completely.

   "Thank you," Driel said.

   Alcan nodded, then put his hand to his forehead for a moment.
"I'd've done more, but I can't.  That lightning bolt took too much out
of me."

   Driel gasped.  "He didn't hurt you too?!"

   Alcan shook his head.  "No," he replied.  "I meant the bolt I cast."
He proceeded to summarize his encounter with the Dark Forces.  Then he
said, "Anyway, what about this Captain Bryant?  Do you know where he'd
be now?"

   Driel glanced around at the people who were cautiously returning to
the streets.  After a moment, she pointed out a heavyset man of medium
height.  "That's him," she said, and started heading toward him; Alcan
and Locke followed.  When she reached him, she said, "Excuse me,
Captain Bryant."

   Bryant turned to face the newcomer.  "Yes?... Driel?  That you?"
She nodded.  "What happened t'you?"

   As Driel explained, Alcan looked around to see how badly the town had
been damaged.  The action had mostly taken place in the streets, so the
buildings had suffered little serious damage, although they were soaked
from the water that had been flying around earlier.  The stable,
however, was about half demolished.  Rubble was strewn over the area of
the battles, and several puddles of water lay near what had been the
stable's entrance.

   "... and we need a ship to find her," Driel was saying.  "Can you
take us?"

   "Certainly," Bryant replied.  "Where to?"

   "Well..."  Driel hesitated.  "I don't know exactly where yet... but
it's somewhere to the east."  She turned again in that direction.
"Lola..." she whispered.

   "To the east," Bryant repeated.  "When d'you want to leave?"

   Driel turned back to him.  "As soon as you can."

   "I can leave anytime."  More to himself than the others, Bryant
added, "Sooner, the better."  Then, to Driel, he continued, "If you're
sure you're alright, we can leave now."

   "Yes, I am - well, close enough, anyway."  She glanced at Alcan.

   "I'll see what I can do tomorrow," Alcan told her, "after I've had
some rest."

   Bryant then beckoned to the three, heading out of the town.  "Then
let's go.  Come on, the ship's this way."  They followed him, and
moments later, they set off in search of Lola.