Tales of the Wanderer Story 2 part 4..

This continues the crossover between Brother Cadfael and The Wanderer, my Dr. Who RPG character, in his 7th incarnation...

The Wanderer was led away to the town jail, as he left the yard, he muttered to himself, "Another fine mess old boy.."

Cadfael, his face wrought with concern, followed Hugh Beringar and his deputy to the spot in the forest where the man's body was found. The man was lying face down, near to a patch of ferns. One hand was outstreched, as if pleading for help.

"Has anything been moved?" Hugh Beringar asked.

"The man had his hand inside the bag." replied the deputy, "I pulled the bag off of his hand."

"A passing strange death," said Cadfael. "I cannot determine the exact cause, but his lips are blue, and he has soiled himself. The index fingeron his right hand is swollen, and he has been dead since last night. I seem to recall seeing something like this before, but I cannot for the life of me remember where."

"Well, is it witchcraft?" the deputy asked, with a look of fear on his face, remembering that he had handled the bag as well.

"I, for one do not think so." Hugh commented assuredly. "I am fairly sure the man may have died at the "Wanderer's hands."

"Assuredly not!" argued Cadfael, "There is no mark upon his body, no bruising to the head, though the ground is disturbed, as if he was in a seizure."

"A poison then?" inquired Hugh.

"Possibly." was the reply.

"Well let us return to the gaol and ask your friend some further questions."


Returning to town, Cadfael returned to Hugh's home and put the bag in the home for safekeeping. They both then journeyed to the gaol to inquire further with the Wanderer. They found him sitting on the floor of his cell in the Lotus position, quietly meditating. As they approached, he stood in one fluid motion, and walked toward the door.

"So what have you found?" he asked brightly, as if being imprisoned was just a minor problem he ran into often.

"A man is dead in the woods, his hand was in your bag, there was signs of a struggle, and his lips were blue, and he had soiled himself before he died." was the matter of fact reply from Hugh.

"Hmm..and you still think I killed him?" The Wanderer said, "He had his hand in my bag, " suddenly a look of total horror and despair came over his face.

"What is wrong?" said Cadfael.

"Where is my bag!" The Wanderer stated urgently. "There is something terribly dangerous inside."

"At my home." said Hugh.

"Then send someone to tell your wife not to open the bag!! Hurry man, her life may depend on it!!" such was the urgency in his voice that Hugh started running for the door, when the deputy rushed in.

Sherriff Beringar sir! Your son is ill, deathly ill!!"

The Wanderer leaned against the door of his cell and uttered what to Cadfael's ears sounded like a curse.

"Sherriff, let me come and help, I may be able to save him if it is not to late!!"

Hugh was caught between his duty to his title and his love for his son. Sensing his hesitation, the Wanderer said,

"If you do not trust me, trust Brother Cadfael, he knows me of old, and you do trust him right?"

"Yes, I do." Hugh unlocked the cell, and The Wanderer stepped out.

"Let us go, but first , Cadfael, I will need the metal tube that Brother Edmund was examining."

"I shall send someone to fetch it." said Hugh, yanking open the door and running down the street toward his home, the Wanderer close on his heels.

Brother Cadfael caught up to the Wanderer, and said "So you know waht killed the man, and made Giles ill?"

"I have some rather nasty suspicions." Was the reply.

Arriving at the Sherriff's home, the group is greeted by a fretful Aline.

"Oh Cadfael, see if you can help him, his hand hurts him so!!" Just then the deputy ran up with the metal tube in hand.

"Good, good, now we can get started." said the Wanderer. He entered the house, and turned on the flashlight, which gave off a blue light.

Aline and Hugh crossed themselves, and the deputy reached for his sword, but Cadfael stayed his hand.

"Ah there you are you nasty hitchhiker!! You are a long way from home, aren't you." The Wanderer reached into his pocket and pulled out a long pair of tweezers. Bending under the table, in the kitchen, he picked up a small scorpion, about 2" long, with a plae yellow tail and a tan body.

"Gentlemen and Lady, " The Wanderer said, "Allow me to introduce to you our mysterious killer, the Mexican Bark Scorpion." Cadfael remembered then where he had seen those symptoms before, during his time in the Holy Land, several soldiers had been stung by scorpions, and some did die.

The Wanderer reached in his bag, and pulled out a container with holes in the top. He placed the scorpion inside. He turned toward Hugh, whose face was wrenched with grief, and said, "Don't worry, we can get help for your son." The Wanderer reached around his neck, but then looked up with alarm.

"Cadfael, did any of your brothers happen to find a key on my person?"

"Not that I am aware." Was the reply.

"Well, then, I would suggest you give Giles something for the pain, we hav about two to three hours to find that key, the bandits must have taken it." replied the Wanderer. "We need that key so that I may get medicines to treat your son, Sherriff, so I would say we should get looking for those thieves!!"

Next...a fight and some TARDIS travel...