A New Alliance

"Sorry," Fred says. "If you have been here for some time, and have seen and heard what went on, then you will know that I am not really a dragon, but an Allarian knight who persuaded Belboz the necromancer to transform him into a dragon, in the hope of being able to destroy the resident fire dragon of these caves. Princess Astra and I formed an alliance. I'm afraid that my attempt at being a dragon has been something of a disaster, however. I would happily return to being a knight if I could, but that prospect seems remote. Belboz is lying at death's door but, even if he could be restored to full health, it seems doubtful whether he could reverse his earlier spell. I should like to help him, but I have no idea how and I fear that in any case it is already too late. So I think that instead I should try to find and rescue Astra. Will you help me?"

Velus barks, but Fred has no idea whether this is intended to mean "yes" or "no". But the little dog doesn't appear to be as frightened as before, which is encouraging. He pads off towards a tunnel on the opposite side of the cave to the one by which Fred entered. Fred follows, hoping that Velus knows where he is going, and that he won't take any passages too small for Fred himself to pass through.

1. We stay with Fred and Velus.
2. Meanwhile Astra is a mile or two distant as the crow flies, and five hundred feet or so lower down. The only piece of good news is that her hearing seems to be returning, as she can hear water dripping somewhere nearby.
3. Meanwhile Astra is a mile or two distant, and five hundred feet or so lower down. In an additional act of spite - or perhaps the teleport spell simply doesn't work on inanimate objects - the red dragon has stripped her of her remaining armour.

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