Maggie Learns the Good News and the Bad News

The master must be the dragon. So Fred had succeeded in his quest. To confirm that, she could see a spreading cloud of red in the nearby part of the pool that was visible through the steam and which must be blood. And of course, there was the foul air, which could only have been expelled from the beast's innards when it died. No sign of the dragon's corpse, though. Perhaps it was wholly submerged, or else it was shrouded by the steam.

But where was Fred? "What happened to the man?"

"I think he got trapped under the dragon's body. He must have drowned by now. Serves him right, the brute! I'll shed no tears for him."

It seemed that the woman had been thoroughly indoctrinated to be a loyal servant.

"Is there a door or a window that you could open to help clear the air?" Maggie asked.

"Yes, The entrance I came in by. I should go out and get help anyway."

If the woman did that, then someone might come who would recognise that Maggie wasn't one of the dragon's servants. There wasn't really any realistic chance that Fred was still alive, so she needn't stay here to try to save him. "No, I'll fetch help. You're obviously pretty shaken up and should stay here." Once she was out of the bathroom, she could try to get to the pink jar without being spotted or, if she was seen, then try to pass herself off as a servant as she successfully had done here. For that, her state of semi-dress might actually work to her advantage.

1. The woman is still too shocked to argue. She is only too happy for Maggie to take charge.
2. The woman won't have that. "No, it's too horrible here. I'll come with you."
3. They are interrupted by the arrival of another person or people.

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