Chapter 4: Magic's Aftermath
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	Driel felt a bit overwhelmed as Locke rushed out of the room.  She had
been unable to respond at all during his little speech, and decided that she
had better get something to eat to settle her stomach.  She noticed that she
was shivering. <Talk about hurried decisions.  What will Jared think when I
tell him I want to leave?  I'd better tell him I just want a vacation.  I
don't think he'd mind, as long as I didn't tell him why I want to go.>  Her
thought were beginning to tumble over each other.  <But what if Locke gets
hurt again?  I don't know if I can do magic again.  What if I get hurt?  I
can't fight!  I've never even really seen a monster, except ones in the ocean.
But I've always speared those from a distance.  I can't fight up close.  And
what if I get caught outside in the rain?  Or don't make it to an inn every
night? Oh, goodness, you'd think I was a kid going on an overnight trip, not a
23-year-old adult about to embark on who knows what.  But I hope he doesn't
change his mind.  Locke seemed a bit hesitant after he told me I could come.
I hope he doesn't feel like I'll be a liability.>
	Biting her lip, she picked up Graedus and slipped it and its sheath
onto the belt of her tunic.  Then she began to stand up... and immediately sat
back down.  "Whoa!" she exclaimed.  She sat back down heavily, the breath
knocked from her.  She was glad there wasn't a mirror in the room, because she
did not want to see what she looked like.  She already knew what she felt
like, and it was not pleasant.  <I hope my magic doesn't plan on healing every
sick person I encounter.  I wouldn't last very long that way.>  Biting her
lip, she stood up and walked out of the room and down the stairs.  For all her
strength, which she had worked up over the years with hard labor, she was
seriously considering getting a walking stick.  <I probably just need
something to eat.>  Her stomach rumbled at that remark.
	When she reached the dining room, she slowly took a chair and sat
down, trying to remain dignified.  Carefully, she framed her words and asked
for a large plate of pasta, vegetables, and a nice cut of steak.  As soon as
the food was placed before her, she lost what little pride she had left, and
wolfed down every last morsel.  She asked for seconds, then thirds.  As the
other people in the room stopped their conversations, stopped eating, and
stared at her, her face grew rosy, then outright cherry red.  For all her
embarrassment, she could not stop eating until after the fourth plate.  She
did feel much better, though.  Hoping she didn't look nearly as foolish as she
felt, she paid for her meal and walked out of the room at a leisurely pace.
	As soon as she was out of sight of the spectators, though, she ran up
the stairs to the room she had rented, laughing hysterically.  Still giggling,
she sat down in the room to wait for Locke.  <I hope that doesn't happen too
much.  Besides being embarrassing, that could get costly...>  Driel picked up
a book she had brought along to read while Locke had lain ill, and tried to
read.  Every few minutes, though, she had to stop because of fits of nervous
laughter that left tears streaming down her cheeks.  <Wait till Jared hears
about this.  He'll never believe me.  He always thought I ate too little.>
Smiling ruefully, she shook her head and concentrated on her book.