Chapter 2: Renshield, I Presume?
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	Banon walked through the injured strewn about the outer areas of 
Jidoor.  He came upon a woman and her child, out and bleeding.  He
knelt down and began to administer healing to the ailing villagers.   
	Thoughts raced through his weathered mind as he worked to revive
the villagers.  Was he making the right decision?  These people still 
needed him.  This war was not over and the situation seemed to just
get worse.  How could he just walk out on those who needed his
guidance?
	He shook his head sadly as he wadded through the injured.  The
smoke hung in an acidic stench and stung his lungs as he breathed.  
He heard shouts from ahead and rushed to the scene.  As he hid in the 
shadows, he saw Akfek's forces pour through a break in the lines.  
Gripping his staff he edged himself into the abandoned house nearby
and ducked into the kitchen.  He gasped as he saw an injured woman
lying near comatose on the floor.  She had been gutted brutally.
	He knelt down beside her and began to attempt to heal her.  He
concentrated all his energy into his energies, and for what seemed for
hours, continuously healed her.  He gave a sigh of relief as he saw
breath draw into her body and he tried to raise himself off the floor.
	He looked straight into the blade of a rapier.
	"Oh my.." He muttered as he felt the tip pinch him between the 
eyes.
	The owner's voice chuckled in laughter as he knelt down to meet
Banon eye to eye.  
	"THIS is the leader of the Returners?"
	"I seem to be at a disadvantage... you are?" Banon stammered.
	"Renshield, General of these armies.  And you are Banon, 
archdruid and leader of the so-called 'Returners'.  Am I even close?"
	Banon swallowed uncomfortably as the blade twisted around, 
causing a trickle of blood to trace down his forehead, "It's a rather
close approximation."
	Renshield chuckled again, "I expected a mighty sorcerer, not 
a tired old healer.  I thought my job was going to be difficult."
	Banon glanced sharply at his captor and grumbled "By Gaia, 
I shall not make it that easy for you."
	Banon quickly dropped to the floor and rolled away and made
a dash for the door.  Reinshield roared in shock and leapt after him, 
his sword raised.  He brought it down on the fleeing man only to
connect with he wood of the door frame.   A smile drew across his
face, this would turn out amusing after all.

		*	*	*	*	*	*
	
	Banon scurried down the alleyways in panic.. He had to find some 
help, fast.  He rounded the corner and ran smack into a dead end. He 
looked at the wall in dispair and turned around.  He was trapped.  
	"Gaia.."  He whispered..
	He saw a shimmering form before him.   It was only there a moment
and then it wavered ad vanished again.  Banon tried to call out to it,
but found he was lacking in voice.  he looked down and saw that his
legs had become wooden...He had turned into a tree!
	Reinshield came thundering down the alley till he came upon a 
giant willow.   He stopped, puzzled.   Where was the old man?
Anger welled up in him, to be given the slip by an elderly fool.
	He looked around frantically for clues, but all he could find was
stupid willow growing out of concrete!
	He stopped again and smiled.  "Gotcha graybeard."
	Raising his sword he sank the blade deep into the trunk of the 
tree.  Blood erupted as the tree emitted a howl and vanished.  Banon
sank to the ground clutching his leg in agony.
	Reinsheild laughed maniacally as he raised his blade again 
triumphantly, "And now Old Man," He sneered, "You die."
	With that he swung his blade again...