A Familiar Story - 5. Curses!

“Being an adult is being responsible for your life as well as your actions.”

We returned the girdle to a dwarf in the inn, Jaheira taking care to ensure the correct girdle was returned. For our efforts, we got seventy gold and an order to take a bath to relieve the stench of ogre still present on us. I smelled nothing.

But then, dwarves are rather strange creatures.

Jaheira set a book down on the table where Khalid and Aerin were eating a small breakfast.

“All that is left to do is clear out some spiders in Beregost. We’ll have to decide if we want to do that before we go to Nashkel or come back for it.”

Aerin shivered at the thought of spiders.

“Could we pay another adventurer to clear out the spiders?” he suggested, handing Gaius a berry.

“No.”

“B-bad ex-experience with spiders?” Khalid chuckled.

“Gorion and I had a run-in with a drow some years ago. So many webs…”

A pair of halflings wandered by, chatting excitedly.

“...No one knows. It explains the iron shortage, or at least part of it. If something’s chasing people out of the Nashkel mines…”

Jaheira stared at the backs that were retreating.

“I’ll be right back,” she said quietly, standing up.

“What’s up with her?” Aerin asked.

“Besides the fact that those two were discussing something to do with our destination?” Gius said, stealing another berry from the mage.

It didn’t take long for the druid to return, a grim look on her face.

“The Nashkel job might be more dangerous than we thought,” she informed Khalid.

“W-We didn’t expect it… to be easy.”

“Perhaps we should go to Beregost first,” Aerin said. “If I remember my geography, that would make a fine base of operations for anything in Nashkel, even if we have to handle some spiders.”

Jaheira tapped the table sharply.

“Alright then, hurry up and we’ll get going. It will take us all day to get there,” she said.

They reached the town after thirteen hours of walking. Aerin’s legs were burning, but he felt like he was slowly getting used to the whole walking all day thing.

A man hurried toward the group as they entered Beregost, a large smile on his face.

“Hello there newcomers! Do you need a guide around town? I know where all the best places are.”

“We just need a place to rest our heads,” Jaheira said.

“Ah, I know just the place. The Burning wizard, in the centre of town.”

“Thanks for your help.”

“No problem friend. Enjoy your stay in Beregost.”

They left the man in peace, following the road through town. Aerin pointed at a sign next to a tall building.

“There’s the inn,” he said.

They stepped inside, Jaheira approaching the innkeeper.

“Been a while since I’ve seen a band of adventurers,” the man said. “What can I get for ye?”

“A couple meads would be nice,” Jaheira said, slapping some gold on the counter. “And if you have some rooms available we could use a couple.”

“Of course,” the man smiled, pouring three mugs of mead. “I’ll have the rooms set up for you while you drink.”

“T-thank you s-s-sir,” Khalid said, accepting one of the mugs from Jaheira.

The druid handed another cup to Aerin.

“Drink up wizard. We’ve earned it,” she said.

They made their way to a table, sitting back to enjoy their prize. Aerin had never had mead before. The most Gorion had allowed him was some watered down ale. He hadn’t enjoyed the taste at all.

This drink tasted vastly different, sweet and thick as Aerin drank it.

“This is good,” he said in surprise.

“Of course it is. This is Beregost, not some simple inn by the road,” Jaheira scoffed.

A man bumped into Aerin, muttering under his breath.

“Blasted goblins stole my damned boots off my feet.”

He turned toward Aerin suddenly.

“I’ll give you a hundred gold if you get my boots back,” he said.

“A hundred gold for a pair of boots? What’s so special about these boots?” Jaheira asked.

“They are my favourite pair, not to mention my only pair. A friend made them for me.”

Aerin shrugged at the explanation. It seemed fair enough.

“What do you think Aerin? Should we track these goblins down?” Jaheira questioned.

The mage gulped.

“You’re asking me?”

“I am. What do you want to do?”

Aerin took a deep breath, looking at the man. He did want to help people, and though this man seemed a little… off… he did need help.

“We’ll do it,” he decided.

The mage wobbled slightly as he climbed the stairs to his room. He had gone through two mugs of the mead, enjoying the way his mind seemed to loosen as he drank. No longer was he so focused on the people he had killed. No longer was he feeling the anguish of knowing somehow he was the cause of Gorion’s death.

Even Gaius was feeling the effects of the intoxication, swaying as he rode Aerin’s shoulders. The dragon jumped off the mage, trying to glide toward the bed. His left wing wobbled, spinning him away from the bed.

Aerin laughed as Gaius landed on the floor, ruffling his wings. The mage collapsed onto the feather bed, sighing as he removed his robes. He felt good for the first time in a week. No, over a week. Aerin hadn’t felt like this since he had snuck to the public bathhouse and gotten a massage from a rather talented gnome in Candlekeep.

Gaius climbed onto the bed, crawling onto Aerin’s chest. He curled up on the half-elf, his breath blowing gently across Aerin’s nipple. Aerin felt his body react to the warm air. Reaching down, the half-elf freed himself from the confines of his loincloth, closing his eyes as he slowly ran his hand down his dick.

It was rare for him to indulge in this kind of activity. Gorion had always disapproved, saying that if he had the time to mess with his body, he certainly had more time to devote to his studies.

Now that Aerin thought about it, perhaps that’s why the sage had always been alone.

He felt Gaius moving on his chest, the dragon turning toward the mage’s groin. His tail brushed over Aerin’s chest as the dragon walked lower. A wet tongue suddenly slid over the top of Aerin’s cock and he gasped in shock.

“Gaius! What are you doing?!”

“Pleasing my master,” Gaius said, amusement in his voice.

“But- mmm…”

Aerin’s eyes rolled back in his head as the dragon licked up his organ. He had never felt anything like this in his sixteen years of life.

“Oh Selune…” the half-elf gasped as he erupted.

Gaius’ tongue was efficient, cleaning off his master with a happy purr.

“Why...?”

“You need someone to care for you. Why not me?”

“But you’re a dragon Gaius.”

“I’m your familiar. You can’t tell me other familiars wouldn’t do the same for their masters.”

He could feel the dragon’s pleasure through their empathic bond, a strong joy. It disturbed the mage, no matter how good it felt in the moment. But maybe… Maybe…

“Maybe there’s a way to make this more appropriate.”

There had to be something he could do. Aerin couldn’t imagine being with his familiar if he was a dragon. But if Gaius wanted to be with Aerin like that, maybe he could find a spell to help Gaius.

Gaius crawled back up to his master’s chest, curling up beside him as he always did at night. Surprisingly, Aerin was asleep soon after, the alcohol in his body pushing him into sleep.

His head was pounding when he woke up. It throbbed every few seconds. Or was that the person knocking on the door?

“Ugh, I’m never drinking again,” he groaned, sitting up.

He pulled his robe on, reaching for his belt. As the mage buckled the leather around his waist, Gaius yelled, “Wait”

Pain enveloped Aerin’s body, his skin crawling and his bones crunching. He cried out, the door opening at Gaius’ yell.

Moments later, he stood dwarfed in his own robes, his skin soft and clear.

“Aerin?”

Jaheira stood in the entrance to the room, her eyes betraying her alarm.

“You put on the wrong girdle…” Gaius said.

Aerin looked down, noticing not the belt, but his breasts, enlarged by the magic in the belt. He felt strange in his groin like something was missing, and as he realised what Gaius had said, the clues came together.

He was a woman now.

“Tell me again why you kept the girdle?” Jaheira asked.

“Because I wanted to experiment with it. I figured if there was a way to make the change voluntary I could sell it.”

Aerin sat on the bed, his hands feeling over his new body.

“There has to be some way to reverse it,” Gaius said.

“Hold on. Maybe I don’t want to reverse it,” Aerin objected.

“Your body has changed,” Jaheira said. “With the changes, there is a good chance it could throw off everything you know. Gestures might be too large, a sling might be released too soon. It will be safer if you do your experimenting where you are safe, and not with a cursed girdle.”

Aerin massaged his left breast, enjoying the feeling of his hand. He sighed, knowing Jaheira was right.

“Do you have any ideas?”

Jaheira nodded.

“A cleric should be able to remove the curse. The cost of healing will come out of your share of any gold we receive until you have paid off your debt.”

“But putting the girdle on was a mistake.”

“A mistake that Khalid and I will have to pay for. Take this as a lesson. You do not want to take things lightly,” Jaheira said sternly.

“I understand,” Aerin said quietly.

He was not a child any more. Any mistake he made could be deadly.

“I have that gem. Do you think it will pay some of the cost?” he asked.

“It might, but it won’t be much,” Jaheira said. “Let’s go. We need to get Khalid and find the temple.”

The four left the inn, the owner of the inn watching Aerin suspiciously. As the group walked, Aerin could feel the eyes of strangers on him, sizing him up as one would size up a steak.

A young woman in robes rushed up to the group.

“Can you help me?” she asked in a rush.

“H-help you with… with what?” Khalid asked, placing a calming hand on the woman’s shoulder.

“There’s a group of bandits after me. I can usually protect myself but these are like… super bandits or something!”

“I think we can keep you safe,” Aerin said. “Perhaps all you need is a larger group to scare them off.”

“Oh thank goodness. I was getting desperate for a moment. Where are the rest of your men? You’ll need more- oh gods, here they come!”

She ducked behind Khalid as a group of four people approached, an aura of menace to their steps.

“You there! Step aside so we may take this woman into custody. Her reckless magics are a danger to all!” the leader snapped.

Jaheira pushed Aerin out of the way, stepping forward.

“And on whose authority do you hunt this woman?” she said coolly, her hand on the handle of her mace.

“On Thayan authority. We must study this anomaly… whether she comes willingly or not,” the wizard sneered.

“Back of before I see if your insides are as red as your skin,” Jaheira snarled, removing her mace.

Beside her, Khalid unsheathed his sword and Aerin pulled out his sling uncertainly. The mage noticed the area they were in was bare of traffic, almost as if the city’s inhabitants could scent trouble on the air.

A flame appeared in the Thayan’s hand as he grinned darkly.

“I do not care how many bodies I must fell. We will take the girl.”

As he stepped forward, the woman yelled, “Begone with you, you Thayan creep!”

A glow appeared around the man and when it faded, he was gone.

“Ekandor! Where have you gone?” one of the remaining men yelped.

“Enough of this. Slaughter them all and we’ll sort this out once we find him,” another wizard snarled.

They rushed forward, Khalid and Jaheira moving to meet their charge.

Aerin focused on casting a shield, protecting himself from the swords of their attackers. Khalid yelped as a ray of ice hit his leg, and Aerin turned his attention to the enemy wizard.

The sling in his hand snapped forward, launching a missile that struck a wall behind Aerin’s target. Grimacing, the mage made another attack, adjusting for the slight lack in height. This stone struck the mage in the eye before he could cast again. Silently the Thayan fell, Aerin’s fourth victim.

As Khalid stuck down the last Thayan, the woman rushed forward.

“Oh gods! I am so so sorry about what just happened.”

“Calm yourself. If you hadn’t gotten us involved, you be dead right now,” Jaheira said.

“We were doing what any good person would in this situation,” Aerin added, taking his eyes off the wizard he had murdered.

“Since you saved me from those wizards, would you allow me to join your party? I swear I can fight. My fireballs are the best this side of Baldur’s Gate.”

Jaheira and Khalid looked at each other.

“I’m sorry, but we already have people coming after us,” Jaheira said. “If you stayed with us, it would put us all at risk. Besides, with this lot dead, perhaps you will be safe from them.”

“Curses,” the woman scowled. “Well, I do have some gems. Please accept them as thanks for your help.”

She handed a bag to Aerin.

“I apologise again for the trouble.”

The strange mage hurried away, leaving the group to search through the dead.

“Nothing?” Jaheira sighed. “Well, let’s find that temple. Where ever it is.”

I will never forget the look on your face as that priest of Lathandar placed his hands upon you. One of sorrow mixed with relief as you were restored to your original form. It was an attractive form, more so than your female form, though I didn’t tell you then.

The healing cost nearly five hundred gold, two hundred of which you were able to trade off using the gold you carried as well as the gems the mage had given us. Still, it would be some time before we started keeping our own gold again, but it was worth it to have you back to yourself.