The Story of Beatrice

Fred thinks about this for a moment. Juliet's famous statement flashes through his mind. "What's in a name? A rose by any other name would smell as sweet." But the name of Montague, and what it signified, led to her death. "Names have a way of taking a life of their own", he thought. "Let me give this creature a good start." Fred forms an idea.

"My lady," Fred declares, "As I have some responsibility for being your being here, I want to give you the name of an admirable woman." Fred then recited the story of Beatrice.

The people of Saltpan had nowhere to flee, and the land became desolate. Beatrice, for that was the girl's name, fled alone amongst the arid wastes, stuggling to survive. One day she approached a hermit, known for his wisdom and his arrogance. The hermit was cold, asking 'what the little beggar wanted.' Beatrice looked him straight in the eye, and replied, 'I do not beg. I will ask for neither food nor shelter. I offer a trade. If you can give me some of your time, then I will pay you back by uniting the people of Saltpan, and you will no longer be bothered by refugees.' The hermit then stated, with contempt, 'I doubt that you are capable of doing this.' Beatrice replied flatly, and without a trace of sarcasm, 'I see. I doubt very much if what you know will be of much help to me, then. I feel that a really smart man does not hoard his wisdom, for fear of others finding out how little he really knows. He instead spreads it out like my father spread compost on a field, in order to nuture and grow what he could not make himself. Sir, your wisdom to me is little more than a closed pail of horse dung. I shall tell the others not to bother you.'

The girl's remark stung the hermit, but he admired her spirit and perception. He taught her how to survive in the wilderness, how to defend herself, and what he knew about the ways of the dragon and his minions.

Beatrice then gathered a small band, and one by one the outlaws were brought to justice. In reward for her work, the King of the Northern Plains awarded her the title of Baroness Beatrice of Saltpan, the only recorded ennoblement of a woman in her own right in the history of the Northern Plains.

"So, my lady," Fred concludes, "like you she started absolutely alone, and through her courage, good judgment, and wit, managed to achieve great ends. I hope history repeats itself. I shall call you Beatrice."

"I hope to be worthy of the honor, Fred. I am afraid that I will not be able to fly well for a while, though. These pellets will dull the pain, but do not help mend any faster."

Fred stands up to get his canteen that he dropped while fighting the wallhugger, only to have his ankle buckle under him as he falls to his knees. Beatrice retrieves it for him, with the remark, "I do not think that we will be able to go far, Fred. We might be able to make it out of the dungeon and heal in safety, or we could stand guard here, risk whatever comes, and use the wallhugger for food."

"Could you fly me out, perhaps?"

"Even if I were healthy, you are far too heavy for me to carry," she observes. "I have to pack light if I expect to fly, or I cannot do it."

1. Fred confidently re-enters the necromancer's room.
2. Fred's injury hobbles him too badly for this to be practical.

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