The Tower of Wayrath: "Don't try to fix me..."

Thomas
~~~

Thomas' lips pursed as he heard the commotion just behind him, then the gurgling voice of William's speech, and the subsequent sounds of vomiting. He hissed through his teeth in response to Anna's whispered summary of events.

"Miss Anna, everything he just said has set me off."

Anything else he might have said was hushed as he listened intently to the stranger's sarcastic reply to Annabella's question. Finally, after the woman's ultimatum, it seemed no one else was willing to respond. He lifted his chin, but his dark eyes floated lazily without focus.

"Ma'am, there are many things in these woods we aren't familiar with, but just on the border were mushrooms. If ingested, they could cause dementia and if rejected by the stomach, would indeed come out in a white soup."

He paused, considering, then shook his head.

"However, I do not think that that is the case. We just recently ran across William and...ah..." He hesitated, trying to remember the girl's name. "And Miss Dublin. Miss Annabella and myself were with two others. I got seperated from the group, and one of our number died."

A breath caused his shoulders to rise and fall.

"Another has left on her own quest. We are not helpless, by any means, but I can assure you, we came upon you by surprise. If we are enemies at all, we do not know it yet."

He shook his head and offered a rather weak smile.

"Personally, I'd rather we not be."