The race started and the beetle Laud pointed out immediately took the lead. But after a while, it suddenly stopped moving.
"Go, go, move," Laud said as others also cheered for their beetles. It then started to move, it lurched overtaking the other beetles.
Zachariah watched surprised. The beetle kept on going but it suddenly stopped inches from the finish line.
Zachariah chuckled, then the bard bowed his head. Zachariah took out a book from his pocket.
"Let's see, your debt is now 2,000 gold coins,"
Zachariah said with a smile on his face.
"Two thousand?" Laud whistled "That's a lot of money," Laud said and the little bard turned to look at him.
" I will fly that for five gold coins," the bard said and pointed at a griffin two men were dragging into a stall.
"Three," Zachariah negotiated.
"Four," the bard said and Zachariah nodded in agreement. The men held onto the griffin for the bard to get on. He got on and they let go.
Immediately he did, the Griffin whistle and stood on its hind legs. It ran out of the barn into the field.
Beating its wings, it took off after a while. The bard held on tight by grabbing its skin. The group ran out to watch. They watched as he flew around and came right back.
The crowd cheered as he flew toward them.
"He placed the bet, he has to fly the Griffin," Zachariah said the moment he got off the Griffin.
"That is not what we said," The bard said, Laud did not mind.
"It is fine, I have always wanted to fly a Griffin," Laud said and walked over to the Griffin. He ran his fingers through its fur.
The Giffin got on its knees and Zachariah and The bard looked at each other. Laud got on and it stood up.
The Giffin ran for a while then spread its wings. Effortlessly they took off, they soared through the skies. Laud smiled, memories of his mother poured into his thoughts.
Tears filled his eyes but before they could fall a gust blew it dry. Laud tapped the Griffin on the back and it descended. Laud got down and walked away.
"I guess I now owe 1,996 gold coins," The bard said to Zachariah. He then ran after Laud.
"Hey, wait me," the bard said as he jogged behind him.
"They call me Pisco," the bard said when he caught up with Laud. At this time the sun was going down.
Laud hurried to get to the meeting place before sunset. He did not pay attention to Pisco.
Pisco took another route to town, he had to make money for dinner. Laud got there and Sabrus arrived soon after.
He had with him a lamb, Laud mounted him and they flew deep into the woods. The night followed them into the woods.
Sabrus started a fire when they got to camp.
He gave a lamb leg to Laud which he placed over a fire. As it roasted Sabrus tried to make small talk.
Sabrus asked,
"What was the town like?"
"Dull, nothing exciting happened. People just sat around doing nothing," Laud answered with little to no emotion.
Miles away Loric was having problems of his own. He was running a fever of 85 degrees Celsius. Shaban and Markeen did not know what to do. They had tried everything to bring down his temperature. But nothing had worked so far.
They were in Asumadoik, another region in Boik. They decided to take him to a physician.
"I am afraid your friend is dying. He has been cursed and his body is burning inside out. He needs a witch to break the curse," the physician said then he went out and returned with a witch.
A woman with beaded-locked hair and multiple bangles around her arm entered the hut. Loric lay on the ground covered in seaweed.
After examining him the witch and the physician walked out.
"So, how much would you give me?" the physician asked the moment the stepped out.
"I will give you 200 gold coins an organ," the witch said to the physician.
As they negotiated, Loric could hear everything from the room. He tried to get up.
"Where are you going? You need to rest," Markeen said and held him back down.
The physician and the witch walked back in. The witch recited some spells before asking Markeen and Shaban.
"He might pass away any moment from now. I suggest you guys say your goodbyes," the physician advised but Markeen and Shaban decided not to say goodbye.
They got out as the witch instructed.
The physician immediately grabbed his scalpel. The witch gave Laud something that knocked him out.
The physician tried dissecting him but the scalpel would not break the skin. The physician hissed then sighed.
"What?" the witch asked and checked on Markeen and Shaban.
"His transformation has already begun," the physician said just before he started choking.
The witch turned to see Loric squeezing the life out of the physician. Loric sat up and his skin turned dark.
"What is happening to me?" Loric asked just before he felt a sharp pain in his head. He let go of the physician and grabbed his head.
He screamed and flames squirted out of his mouth. It chared the witch instantly.
"Tell me what is happening to me or you are next," Loric said after grabbing the physician's neck again.
"You have dragon breath, you are gaining dragon properties. I can make you a lot…" the physician said.
Before he could finish, Loric snapped his neck.
"I am much better now, coming here was a good idea," Loric said to Shaban and Markeen.
Markeen and Shaban helped him by wrapping his arms around their shoulders. They continue their journey without looking back.