Four Ways to Allaria

Astra declared, "I would like to go to Allaria."

Fred raised his eyebrows and nodded, surprised but pleased. He said, "You would be most welcome there."

Clara replied, "Why Allaria?"

"The Dragazons are going to think the same thing that you were thinking - that you and I are going south. If we go north, then we may be able to get a head start. I have other reasons. The Dragon is gaining strength, and the way that we have been dealing with him simply is not working. I want to talk to the men in the court of Allaria. We have been able to afford to be aloof for generations of peace. We cannot afford this now."

Clara responded, "I had already thought through this. If we take the path that I recommend back to Aqualaria, we would be able to pick up some crude weapons and some clothing along the way. I think that we would be crazy to try to escape without those - the Dragon's servants will put on boots and clothing and catch up with us while we are tiptoeing our way through the rocks. Also, there will be armed Dragazons between here and the Castor and Pollux entrances. [Note: These were the names the Dragazons gave to the two entrances in episode 2.] We would have a much better chance of escaping by the route that I was going to show you. But if you insist on going to Allaria, I will do my best."

Astra said, "You know the caverns and the Dragazons. What is your advice?"

Now this turn of events unsettled Clara. The punishment for treason was being scorched by the dragon. He would leave the traitor alive, with death coming only after a great amount of agony. She had seen it happen once, and had then suppressed the thought, but it now came back to her. While Astra and Fred would be spared that fate if captured due to their value and the fact that they were outsiders, Clara could well be subject to it. She then pushed the thought out of her mind.

Although she had doubts about going to Allaria, she would not go alone to Aqualaria unless she had to. Besides, Astra was correct in one thing - once the alarm had sounded, the Dragazons would first look south.

Clara knew of two possibilities.

She could take Fred's suggestion of using the Pollux Entrance. Fighting their way through would not work - she hoped by this time Fred and Astra had learned that. And honestly, she had no desire for a clash with the Dragazons. They were deluded, but she knew most of them and did not want to hurt them. Well, there were a couple of exceptions, but she would not seek out a fight even against those. Fortunately there was no way for the word of the prisoner's escape to get this far yet. As the cavern's mining and safety expert, she could declare the Pollux Entrance closed due to Cave Worm activity. The Dragazons would then use the Castor Entrance, and she might be able to get Astra and Fred to pass through unnoticed. A stash of mining equipment lay five minutes walk away. She could count on getting short pants, boots, helmets, and small pickaxes that could be used as weapons. Mining was hot work, so there might not be any shirts available. The prisoner's escape would be discovered at any time and a hue and cry raised, so she could not waste time, but the supplies would be an aid in speed for the rest of the journey and worth the taking the risk.

She knew of three alternate routes to Allaria that branched off the same tunnel that went toward Aqualaria. These routes went through the abandoned mines, and generally went up toward peaks in the Shreken range instead of deep under the mountain like the Aqualarian route. These routes had hazards of their own, but that was good in that the servants of the dragon would think it unlikely that Astra or Fred would even attempt to use them. There would be little time lost in picking up the clothing and picks, as these would be on whatever path they chose. There were three possibilities.

The Mountain Laurel route was difficult to get through - the cave roof was unstable in places and there was a pit that would need to be worked around. The entrance was also high up in the mountains, without a good trail, and it would tricky to climb down. Once they were down, the supply of food and water were good and the way back to the Allarian heartland would not be difficult.

The path to the Jonquil entrance was much easier than the Mountain Laurel. The mine was inactive but well maintained, as there were still workable ore deposits. It had the least risk of flooding or cave collapses of any of the routes. Once you were out, the trail back to heartland of Allaria was shorter. It was perfect, except for one problem. There was a huge nest of wasps that blocked the entrance. Even the dragon would not go there lightly.

The path to the Blackball entrance was the longest, and was tight at times. This would be the worst path as far as the possibility of suffocation or a candle flame setting off a gas explosion. Once one was out, the Blackball entrance overlooked a canyon. The Blackball complex was not known to most, and possibly not any, of the other Dragazons, so it offered the best chance of concealment both on the path and once outside. The journey back to the Allarian heartland would be arduous, as the early part of the trail back was sparsely populated and food and water could be scarce.

Clara did not have to think long about these alternatives, and did not have time to discuss her thoughts at length. Astra had just asked her for her recommendation. She answered Princess Astra with this advice.

1. Follow the underground river back to the Pollux entrance, as Fred wished. But divert long enough to pick up some clothes from miner's equipment.
2. Take the Mountain Laurel route.
3. Take the Jonquil route.
4. Take the Blackball route.

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