Is it wrong to fleece adventurers at the item shop?

All the plans I had for this day are pretty much forgotten by this point. I guess I have to be thankful that everyone is quite helpful with my recent dilemma. Well, anyone we have to tell anyway. I don't feel a need to make it well known that I managed to curse myself and Agnieszka apparently concurs. Just as well.

Agnieszka and I leave the bath before anyone else can ask any questions I don't feel like answering. We head straight to the temple to see Wislawa about my problem.

Pretty much like always the priestess seems to be already waiting for us. By now I'm mostly convinced that she has to have some kind of divine gift that lets her know when her presence will be required.

Although we are fresh from the bath both my neighbor and I wash our feet again at the basin in the temple's anteroom. I drop a few coins into the offering bowl as well. After all I'm the one looking for some divine assistance. Even worse, it's due to my own carelessness too. To make a small offering like this is the least I can do.

Thankfully Agnieszka decides to do most of the talking since I'm not quite sure I could do it myself. She pulls the priestess into a heartfelt hug as she approaches to greet us too. After a moment the priestess returns the hug.

“What brings you two here this early?”

Agnieszka lets go of the priestess and gestures in my direction, as she answers.

“Valeria managed to get herself cursed. The bandanna. Could we trouble you to take care of it?”

“Hm?”

Wislawa turns towards me. Judging by the look on her face she is using a skill, either on me or the bandanna. Probably the latter, although I can't be quite sure. Her brows furrow a little and, after shooting my companion a questioning look, she moves a little closer, puts her hands on my cheeks to focus on the bandanna more closely.

I start to get a little fidgety, as she keeps staring at me with great focus like that for a while.

Finally she lets go only to let out a long sigh.

“I see. This is a tricky one. Of course Valeria wouldn't be able to see through it with her appraisal skill. Come on in you two. Valeria, kneel over there by the pool and lean forward a little. Agnieszka, hold her in gently. Gently. I'm not sure, but the curse might just make her try to wriggle her way out of this.”

The way she says that makes me a little nervous. I have only ever seen a curse being lifted once during my time at the academy and that was a very basic curse. The weakest of the weak. No one had to hold the victim in place back then.

I start to fidget a little as I kneel down. Is it because I'm nervous? Or is this really the curse acting up? Maybe it is the former, as I actually manage to calm down again, once I can feel Agnieszka's hands on my shoulders.

“Just relax, dear. Wislawa will have you all fixed in not time at all.”

Her words are probably supposed to reassure me, and in a way they do. They raise another question though.

“She will? Does this happen often?”

The priestess doesn't let my question distract her, but Agnieszka snorts in amusement.

“Every once in a while. I have seen a few in my years. It mostly happens to adventurers though. There are always some who just can't wait to get whatever neat thing they found checked back here. I guess we have to be thankful that none of the curses were the really bad kind mentioned in the old bardic epics.”

I shudder at the thought. The bardic epics usually are about realms rising and falling. Lots of unrequited love, bloodshed and worse. For some reason love stories or comedies with a happy ending never end up as bardic epics. Shanties or bawdy songs you'd sing while drinking or dancing at the inn? Sure! Bardic epics? Not so much.

Ah well, never mind. That might just be a mystery beyond me. I probably should focus on more immediate concerns anyway. Or maybe I shouldn't? Could I keep the curse distracted? I'm not sure.

While I'm lost in my meandering thoughts like that Wislawa finishes her preparations. She scoops some water from the sacred pool with a ladle.

“Father, Mother, Maidens! Hear my call! Moon, sun, stars. Bless this water. Imbue it with power and intent. May it lift curses and break shackles of mind and body!”

I already know the words. I have heard them before after all, even if just once. And it seems that is enough to rouse the curse. Before Wislawa finishes her incantation I start to fidget. Not because I want to either. My eyes widen as I realize that the curse wants to take control, to some degree, to evade what is coming.

Apparently I'm not the only one who is aware of this little fact. Agnieszka's light touch upon my shoulders turns into a veritable vice grip. Gods and goddesses, the woman is strong!

The water in the ladle starts to glow in a weird way, as if it can't quite make up its mind if it wants to emit moon-, sun- or starlight. It is a little eerie. It is incredibly pretty too though.

I don't want to actually look away, but the curse makes me turn my head, as if to twist out of the way of what is to come.

Agnieszka's grip remains firm though and thus I remain locked in place too and the fact that I turn my head away doesn't make much of a difference at all.

I can't exactly see what happens next, especially as some of the salty water gets into my eyes, as Wislawa pours the ladle's contents upon my head or rather the bandanna. I can feel the bandanna heat up though in a way that is a little beyond just uncomfortable.

Before it gets too bad though, Agnieszka grabs the offending item with one hand to pull it off. The other hand remains on my shoulder, still holding me in place just in case. The moment the wet cloth hits the ground she puts a foot on it too for good measure. Only then does she let go of me.

We all let out a sigh.

At the same time I raise an eyebrow though, as I nod in the direction of the wet bandanna, trapped under Agnieszka's foot. It just lies there like, well, a wet rag.

“Is that really necessary?”

It is Wislawa who answers my question.

“Can't be too careful. Anyway, let me get a piece of string to tie it up. I'll dispose of it properly later. I hope you don't mind.”

Actually disposing of cursed items does take some effort. Destroying a cursed item can be dangerous too. At worst all the magic power bound to the enchanted item can discharge all at once in a rather violent fashion. Thus this is usually done in some out of the way place where the chance of collateral damage is minimal at best.

I certainly won't complain if the priestess knows how to go about it. One less thing to worry about. That is fine with me.

“If you could? By all means, please do.”

The priestess nods while she wraps up the bandanna before tying it up tightly with a sturdy piece of string.

“Don't worry. This isn't the first time I have to get rid of a cursed item. This one should be easy since it is just cloth.”

Agnieszka pats my back and helps me back up while I rub my eyes. They still sting a little.

“Well, dear, that is one thing taken care off. Lets go and see if we can find Urszula and her little one to help you out with the other issue.”

I blanch a little at the reminder. At the same time I can't help but ask an important question raised by the way Agnieszka phrased that.

“What if she can't help me? What if the little one isn't hungry anymore?”

My neighbor just shrugs, as she leads me out of the village temple.

“There are other ways, but we'll cross that bridge when we reach it. If we even have to. Maybe we can get something to eat too. I'm a little hungry. How about you?”