Chapter 3: Bedside Manners
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	Driel sat in the chair, half-dozing.  She awoke with a bit of a start
when she heard someone groan, but calmed down as she realized it was only her
patient.  She observed him, bemused as he swept his gaze about the room.  His
eyes were slightly glazed, and he didn't seem to notice her.  For a few
minutes Driel remained quiet, as the man seemed to drift off into his own
world.  <I wonder what he's thinking about,> she thought to herself.  Now that
his face was animate, and he was regaining a normal flesh tone, she realized
that he was really quite handsome, in a roguish sort of way.  Especially when
a small smile touched his lips, in response to some unknown thought.
	Suddenly, though, he tensed, and reached for where his weapon would
be, if she had not removed it when she had taken off his shirt to bandage his
chest.  She sat up straighter, wondering if he was going to attack anyhow, but
he finally relaxed, and after a moment began to speak.
	"Hello.  I'm Locke Cole.  You're the one who brought me here, I take
it?  Thank you..."  He smiled brightly at her.
	"Um, yes I did.  My name is Driel Aplani.  I've been tending your
wounds for about a day now."
	Locke smiled.  "Well, at least it was only a day.  It would have been
disturbing if I had slept for say, a week, and had lost too much time. Since
you cured me, you must have figured out what was wrong.  What was wrong?"
	"As near as I can figure, you drank something poisonous, which
aggravated your already weak condition.  Fortunately most of your wounds were
not infected, except for this one on your arm.  You did end up with a mild
case of blood poisoning.  If I had been paying too much attention to the
poison you drank, I might have missed it, but I should be able to clean your
blood now."  As she spoke, she lifted up his arm to point out the angry red
streaks running along it.  When she touched it, the red lines started to fade
to pink, then disappeared all together.
	"Hey, thanks!"  Locke exclaimed.  He didn't seem to notice the
disturbed expression which flitted across Driel's face, because he was so
engrossed in his arm.  "So, your magic still works?  That's good, because my
own seem to only work in spurts, if at all.  And my tonics seem to be reduced
for some reason."
	Driel smiled weakly.  "Yeah, my magic's still working.  Otherwise I
wouldn't have been able to wake you in just a day.  Most of my herbs don't
work that quickly."  What she didn't add was that she had never had much luck
with magic before, and had not even been casting a spell when she touched
Locke's arm.
	"I'm glad, then.  Again, thank you for all you've done.  I even feel
stronger now, like I've just gotten a burst of energy."  Driel winced as he
spoke, for she herself felt like she had just run a marathon.  While fighting
a monster.
	Locke, feeling better than he had in days, was also feeling very
enthusiastic.  "If my luck keeps holding out, I should be able to find Celes
and the others in no time!"
	<Celes?>  Driel thought, <I wonder who Celes is.  He seems to be fond
of whoever it is.>  Locke's enthusiasm was contagious though, so she started
to perk up.  "So, where are you headed?"
	"Well, I want to check the town here briefly, and if no one I know is
here, I plan on moving on to Jidoor,"  Locke said.
	She laughed as she heard this.  "This must be your day then!  I'm with
the ship Leviathan's Pride, and we leave for Jidoor tomorrow."
	"What a lucky streak this is!"  Locke chuckled. "Boy, I've spent too
much time with Setzer.  I'm starting to sound like him.  Anyhow, do you think
passage to Jidoor would cost too much?"
	Driel smiled.  After going through his stuff, she knew he didn't have
much cash on him.  "Actually, I could probably get you on board with no
problem, as my guest.  My brother owns the ship, and I'm sure he wouldn't
mind, as long as you don't spread the word that we transport passengers for
free."
	"Thank you!  Is there anything I can do to repay you?"  He was still a
bit weak, and his good fortune was starting to shock him.  <I think I MUST be
stealing Setzer's good luck,> he thought.
	As he asked her this, she started to fidget a bit.  Feeling bold, she
asked, "Actually, I was wondering if I might tag along when you reach Jidoor.
I've been wondering about the strange things that magic has been doing lately,
and you seem to be headed in the right direction.  You have the smell of
adventure about you."
	Locke chuckled again.  "I guess you could say that.  Sure, why not!  I
might run into more trouble, and a healer could come in handy."
	She beamed at him, her face lighting up.  "Thanks!  Well, I need to
eat now.  If you want, I could send you food, or you could just rest, or if
you are feeling up to it, you could wander about town looking for familiar
faces.  It's up to you."  With that, she waited for his response.